" Freda " an antique folk art sailor made diorama or shadow box for wall hanging.
size ... width ... 740mm ... height ... 460mm ... depth ... 85mm
the sailor made diorama or shadowbox is of a three masted square rigged ship in full sail named "freda". the hull and sails of the ship are carved out of wood, the ship sails on a painted moulded sea with a painted atmospheric back drop. painted flags and a name pennant are flying from the masts. the ship is depicted with a pilot cutter coming alongside. in the distance a lighthouse can be seen perched on a rock. a small steam tug can be seen passing the 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.
the diorama retains its original burr maple frame. rather than replacing the glass entirely the hand float glass has been patched in the top right hand corner. modern replacement glass is flat and characterless, the original float glass undulates and has imperfections that add to the authenticity of the piece.
