S/3183 Antique Treen 19th Century Mahogany Fid

A medium sized 19th century mahogany fid, having a top with worn incised line decoration in the usual manner. These fids were used for splicing ropes. They came in various sizes, and on whaling ships they were often made of whalebone. In other vessels oak, mahogany and teak were used, but mostly lignum vitae. The largest one recorded is 52 inches long and is in the Worthing Museum in Sussex. The whole has a medium colour and retains a patination.

Sold 15¾ in. (40 cm.) Wide
2 in. (5 cm.) Diameter English Circa 1840