Edit Object 1632

A spectacularly carved nameboard from the late 19th Century American Steam Yacht NEREID, this would have been mounted along the starboard side head ornament of the highly detailed luxury cruising yacht, built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, Rhode Island in 1882. It is a beautifully carved nameboard from a single piece of wood, with elegant craftsmanship and a superb aged patina, retaining its period finish and gilt.

The premier yacht designer Nathanael Herreshoff started in Providence and Bristol after graduating from MIT in 1870, and established the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in Bristol in 1878 with some family members. If it wasn't for an accident in an 1888 speed trial, Herreshoff may have stayed with steam engines his entire career, rather than following into the design and building of some of the most famous racing sail yachts ever. NEREID was a 76 foot yacht with a 72 foot water-line, 12 ½ foot beam powered by compound inverted engines of 8 and 14 inches with a 14 inch stroke. It is listed that Herreshoff initially sold NEREID to Jay C. Smith of New York, and then in 1884 George Beck sells the yacht to F.L. Osgood, a prominent member of the Boston Yacht Club, and for whom Herreshoff made improvements on the yacht, including enlarging the cabin.

While such decorative arts were produced by seafarers and ship builders over the centuries, authentic carvings off of actual ships continue to be highly sought after and increasingly difficult to find. This is a extremely fine example and remnant artifact from the opulent era of the graceful steam yachts, and one of the best name carvings we have seen.

Select a Type
American Ship Portrait
Barometers
Bells
Binnacles & Compasses
Binoculars
Book Maritime
Book Voyages
Books
Books General
Boylhart Collection
Builders Full Models
Builders Half-Model
Canes - Decorative
Canes - Gimmick
Cannons
Carving
Chronometers
Clocks
Contemporary Art
Contemporary Models
Decorative Art - Boxes
Dieppe Models
Diorama Models
Diving Helmets & Equipment
Dockyard Models
Edged Weapons
Engravings
Figureheads
Firearms
Fishing Equipment
Folk Art Models
Furniture
Glass and Pottery
Globes
Jewelry
Joe & Lisa's Art Collection
Lamps
Letters
Lighthouse Artifacts
Limited-Edition Prints
Lithographs
Maps & Charts
Marine Narrative
Marine Narrative at Sea
Medical
Microscopes
Miscellaneous Artifacts
Navigation Instruments - Compass
Navigation Instruments
Navigation Instruments - Sextant
Octants, Quadrants & Backstaffs
Original art
Other Models
Painted Photograph
Passenger Liner Memorabilia
Patent Models
Period Models
Photographs
Pond Models
Pottery
Prints
Prisoner-of-War Artifacts
Prisoner-of-War Models
Sailor Crafts
Sailor Valentines
Sailor Woolworks
Scrimshaw Artifacts
Scrimshaw Private
Scrimshaw Teeth
Sea Chests
Sextants
Ship Clocks
Ship Hardwares
Ship in a Bottle
Ship Log Books
Ships Flogging Whip
Signed Documents
Silver and Silver Plated Models
Speaking Trumpets
Statues
Steam Engine Models
Steam Models
Sundials
Sword
Tankards & Pitchers
Telescopes
Tillers, Rudders & Yokes
Toy Models
Trinity Boxes
Trophys & Presentions
Voyages & Travels
Watches
Whaling