Unidentified figure head/wooden bust??

[nguttridge]

Dragged from the bottom of the Solent 60yrs ago, please help identify

 

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[mamabear]

that's wood? It looks very well preserved. is there anything on the bottom? & what country are you in?

 

[Mackaydon]

Welcome to Treasure Net !!
I had to look it up:
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England. (Wiki)
Don...

 

[nguttridge]

i agree it does look well preserved but apparently nothing has been done to it. It sat in a pub for 50-60 years and then in a private dwelling. We are in England (portsmouth) and unsure what the bottom is like (its at my uncles house)

 

[mamabear]

wow this is an area with a lot of history! Solent Geology - Introduction - Dr. Ian West.

 

[cw0909]

from nguttridge post
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/312673-what.html#post2937574
What is it?
This was found in the solent 60 years ago after being dragged to the surface by a fishing net. It is wooden. Any ideas of what it is or where it may have come from??

nguttridge,hope you dont mind im putting your imgs in one place, and agreed it does
look very well preserved,have you had a musem look at it

 

[deepsecrets]

The notch in the front of the piece looks as if could be where the handrail of ships stairs would be attached. The figure would have been mounted on a newel post. It's possible it comes from a Royal Navy ship from the 18th C. Would be helpful to know where this was found - could narrow down the possible wrecks. Maritime historians could definitely date and identify country of origin. It would be really a great find if it turned out to be from the HMS Royal George 1756.

 

[Wily Dunk]

I have got to get some better glasses, I thought it was Abe Lincoln...

 

[mick56]

Looks like Zues to me.

 

[cw0909]

if you email this guy maybe he will have some useful info
Martin Jeffery...... Ship's Figurehead Carving
nauticstorms@yahoo.com

ive seen this book refered to several times,with great reviews
Book Review from SW Soundings
Figureheads & Ships Carvers
By Michael Stammers
SW Maritime History - Figureheads & Ships Carvers

more interesting reading
Nautical Figureheads - Dead Media Archive
More Information about Ship's Figureheads
The Figurehead Archives - The Figurehead Archives
Guardians of the Crew | Curious Expeditions

 

[DCMatt]

An artists rendition of Pythagorus?



Note the knot on his shoulder.

DCMatt