Sailors Carved Whalebone Fid
A Sailors Carved Whalebone Fid
Old smooth patina
Mid 19th Century
Size: 22cm long – 8½ ins long
See Finch & Co catalogue no. 13, item no. 91, for a large example of a Lignum Vitae Fid
Old smooth patina
Mid 19th Century
Size: 22cm long – 8½ ins long
See Finch & Co catalogue no. 13, item no. 91, for a large example of a Lignum Vitae Fid
The fid was a strictly utilitarian sailors tool and consequently they have little decoration. Of a carrot shape with a smooth surface they were handmade on boardship of a hardwood such as lignum vitae or of whalebone. Ranging in size from 8 inches to 20 inches or more fids were used for inserting thimbles into prepared rope, working knots, splicing rope and for opening holes in a canvas sail because sail makers would spread the threads of the canvas rather than cut a hole in it.
Sailors Carved Whalebone Fid
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