an antique folk art sailor made diorama or shadow box for wall hanging.
size ... width ... 480mm ... height ... 350mm ... depth ... 110mm
the sailor made diorama or shadowbox dates to between 1860 to 1880, and is of a three masted square rigged ship in full sail, the hull and sails of the ship are carved out of wood, the ship sails on a painted wooden sea, carved to emulate waves. the ship is depicted sailing towards a painted ship on the horizon. the diorama still retains its original hand float glass.
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.
