Get The TechniqueBritish sailors crafted "Woolies" primarily between 1840-1880. These skilled and self-taught needle workers created intricately embroidered images of their ships during their free time. Here are some photos from a recent exhibit I saw at Annmarie Garden Sculpture Park & Arts Center in Solomons, Maryland.
This ship seems to have met an unfortunate end... I wonder if the sailor artisan was a member of the crew, or just a witness?
A closer shot- the different stitches really give a beautiful movement to the flames and smoke.
In this detail you may notice the sailors jumping down to safety and escaping in row boats.
This one is incredible- it seems to be a form of Stumpwork. There is some type of stuffing underneath the stitching of the sails, again, giving the illusion of movement.
From: Emerson Merrick | 8/14/09 at 12:09 pm
Oh gosh! I saw this exhibit over christmas when i was visiting my folks, it blew my mind.
From: Mary Corbet | 8/14/09 at 7:49 pm
I seem to recall a similar exhibition at one of the Smithsonians. The piece was stunning, with all kinds of stitches employed. This is a subject I've always wanted to follow up on, but just never have!
From: Debra | 8/17/09 at 8:35 am
I saw the "Woolies" in Florida last year and the workmanship was just meticulous.
From: Eliza B. | 8/17/09 at 9:13 am
The detailwork is incredible! The artist gave a sense of dimension and movement to the smoke, the flames, and especially the sales in the "still intact" ship. What beautiful handiwork.