an antique folk art sailor made diorama or shadow box for wall hanging.
size ... width ... 660mm ... height ... 440mm ... depth ... 90mm
the sailor made diorama or shadowbox is of a three masted square rigged ship in full sail named "sark". the hull and sails of the ship are carved out of wood, the ship sails on a painted paper covered cotton wool sea. painted card crew members can be seen on deck. the ship is depicted passing a lighthouse, possibly smeatons edystone lighthouse.
ship dioramas of this type are sometimes referred to as a sailors shadow box. mariners were by tradition quite superstitious. one particular superstition or old belief was it could be bad luck if a sailors shadow reached shore before he did. by carrying his belongings, a metaphorical shadow of himself, enclosed in a box he could insure he touched land before his shadow.
