A Wonderful 19th century Sailor-Made "Nautical Fancy Ropework" Box.

Retaining its' original green velvet lining, this box was likely made to hold jewellery or valuables. The ropework is of the highest quality and rarely seen. Only a few sailors' learned this form of artwork. Some of the names given to the various types of ropework patterns used are 'double strand reversed French grapevine, flat English braid, five strand star knots and five strand expanded turks head.' Formerly in the collection of J.Welles Henderson, founder of the Philadelphia Maritime Museum and author of JACK TAR, A Sailors' Life 1750-1910. H 6 1/2" L 11 1/2"