The Imagery of the Sea - Figureheads and Symbols

The tradition of decoaring boats, ships, and other vessels can be traced far back in history. We encounter it on magnificent warships, in carvings on Viking vessels, and in all the symbols, mythical creatures, deities, and portraits of shipping company owners found in decorations through the ages. But what did people actually want to convey with these ornaments - and why is it that we are still fascinated by them today? In this richly illustrated work, seven Swedish experts provide an overview of the ongoing research on the history and ornamentation of Scandanavian vessels. The origins of this project lie in the figureheads conserved at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Engelsberg Ironworks in Västmanland, Sweden - also known as the Skagen Collection. With its wealth of variety in subject matter and artistic expression, the collection provides an overview of the tradition of figureheads during their last heyday. It has been possible to identify some of the figureheads and connect them to specific vessels, but others remain a mystery. Preface -- Kurt Almqvist Introduction -- Svante Helmbaek Tirén The Figurehead's Adventures Through Time and Space -- Annika Bünz The Figureheads at Engelsberg -- Svante Helmbaek Tirén Sweden and the Sea - From the 16th Century to the Present Day -- Leos Müller The Danish Monster -- Johan Rönnby The Royal Ship Kronan - Palace and War Machine -- Lars Einarsson Between Lion Figureheads and Lions of Fashion -- Niklas Eriksson Vasa - The Metaphysical Warship -- Fred Hocker Vessel Ornaments in Stockholm's Maritime Museum Collections -- Ingrid Ulfsted Water routes long constituted the most natural way to travel, and the ships that people travelled on also served as an expression of the owner s status and power. The roughly forty ship artefacts in the Maritime Collection at Engelsberg, in the form of figureheads, ornaments and other decorative elements, bear witness to many stories about life at sea. This anthology presents a number of approaches to the many symbols and artistic expressions found on vessels, along with recent photos and new knowledge about the figureheads