Edit Object 71

Appropriately dressed in red, white & blue, this American figurehead would have begun its existence as a prominent part of a 19th century sailing ship. Positioned as the culmination of the bow, a figurehead is among the most prized artifacts which come from a ship. More than just a carved image, each serves as the symbol of the ship's nature and namesake.

Figure carvers found work in the shipyards of the east coast as a full-time occupation for more than 200 years, beginning in the second half of the 17th century. Most often, their works were directly commissioned by the vessel builders and owners, and the final result would be an image that closely identified with the vessel's name in nearly all cases.

Proudly posed, our lady liberty possesses a natural charm. Slightly raked back to account for the angle of her attachment, she has plugs in her bodice to cover the once necessary mounting hardware. Her silence is permanent, despite the wealth of tales she could tell.

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