an unusual ship in a light bulb model of a three masted sailing vessel in full sail, passing a small coastal village or town, set inside a clear glass light bulb. the coastal village /town consisting of several cottages, a church and a tall castillated castle, possibly Conwy Castle, the ship sailing on a putty sea. The ship in a lightbulb is mounted on a hardwood stand.
on the end of the bulb when viewed under ultra violet light, a manufacturers mark is visible. the mark reveals that the bulb was made in england by cryselco, it had a single coil and was the property of h.m.government, the bulb carries a kings crown cypher, which would date its manufacture to sometime during the reign of king George vi. 1936-1952.
length ... 120mm.
the ship in bottle as folkart is probably, unfairly the greatest cliche of maritime folkart and as such is often overlooked. the amount of skill , artistry and maritime knowledge can not be underestimated in each creation. sculpting ships in bottles became fashionable in the 19th century ,helped by the introduction of mass produced clear glass bottles, an explosion in maritime trade and the desire to bring home a token , souvenir of travel on the high seas. the genuine sailor art form continued into the early 20th century when finally it fell out of fashion with mariners. an original sailor made ship in bottle served as a poignant reminder of the magnificence of both – the vessels and the maritime domain. the ship in bottle was often given as a token of love or endearment. it would have held pride of place in a loved ones home. ships in bottles in their heyday were solely the creations of sailors. to own a ship in a bottle would portray to the onlooker that the custodian was associated with an adventurer, a world explorer who would ride the tempest and all that neptune and his sirens could conjure, to get safely back to his love. it would also serve as a message in a bottle to any of the artists maritime peers that when it came to the sea and who ever may sail , that he really knew what he was talking about.
