S/4971 Antique Treen 19th Century Fruitwood Sailor's Fid

A 19th century fruitwood sailor's fid, having an attractive turned centre section. 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 and teak were used, but mostly lignum vitae. The largest one recorded is 52 inches long and is in the Worthing Museum in Sussex. It has a lovely colour, as often found in fruitwood, and has an excellent patination with one or two historic worm holes.

Sold 16½ in. (42 cm.) Wide
1¼ in. (3 cm.) Diameter English Circa 1830