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Abstract
Between the mid-eighteenth century and 1900 almost all the figureheads on British warships were carved in the likeness of an individual man, woman, beast or bird, each of which was intended to represented the name of the ship. Of those that have survived, the vast majority are painted in full colour, suggesting that this was how they were painted when in service with the fleet. This article looks at what evidence exists to show how they were actually painted so that the subject may be better understood. It concludes that, between 1727 and 1900, both white figureheads and those painted in colour were to be seen throughout the fleet and that rather more were painted white than in colour.
Acknowledgements
I am most grateful to those members of the Society for Nautical Research who responded to my request for information on the colour of figureheads published as Query 4 (2014) in volume 100:2 of this journal and others who are named in relevant footnotes. Also to several National Maritime Museum curators who have guided me through the complexities of the collections in their care and to staff in the Caird Library who have arranged for me to examine scores of paintings from the collection. Also to the anonymous referees whose useful comments have enhanced the article. If this article were to prompt any additional information about the colours of British warship figureheads in the period specified, the author would be delighted to hear of it.
Notes
1 Laughton, Old Ship Figure-Heads and Sterns, 5.
2 Pulvertaft, Figureheads of the Royal Navy, in which the Figurehead Directory includes all known survivors and states where they may be found.
3 Owen, ‘Figureheads’, 289–94 and 321–7 and Owen, ‘The Devonport Figureheads’, 145–7.
4 Owen, ‘Figureheads’, 290.
5 Norton, Ships’ Figureheads, 80.
6 Hopwood, The Old Way and Other Poems, 49–55.
7 McCarthy, E., ‘Ship Carvers in Eighteenth-and Nineteenth-century Britain’, Sculpture Journal, 24:2 (2015), 179–94.
8 McCarthy, ‘The Changing Purpose and Interpretation of Ships’ Figureheads’
9 Nance, ‘Quicksilver, carvedwork and painting of ships’, 89.
10 M., ‘Figurehead of “Aboukir”’, 128.
11 Hugh Harrison, former Managing Director of Herbert Read Ltd, pers. comm., 1Sep. 2014.
12 Andy Peters of Maritima Wood Carving, pers. comm., 11 Jul. 2009.
13 TNA, ADM 87 and 106, Navy Board Records.
14 TNA, ADM 106/1151/111, Captain Corner, the Romney, Portsmouth. Request that his figurehead is painted in proper colours, 7 Apr. 1767.
15 TNA, ADM 106/1794, Navy Board in-letters, Woolwich.
16 NMM NPB9670 dated 28 Aug. 1885.
17 Lavery and Stephens, Ship Models.
18 Rogers, Henry Huddleston Rogers Collection.
19 Stephens, The Thomson Collection.
20 Trewmans Exeter Flying Post, 13 Feb. 1806.
21 ‘Warship Figurehead’, 146.
22 Hall, Fragments of Voyages and Travels, vol. 3, 55.
23 Year of design submission.
24 Year of ship launch or capture (†).
25 The description in ADM106 matches the Dickerson design, paper watermarked ‘GR 1795’.
26 One design includes the coloured union flag; the other has both the red and blue ensigns.
27 The design includes the coloured union flag.
28 The design is of an eagle holding a thunderbolt, alluding to the French word foudroyer, to strike with lightning.
29 A replacement, her original having been destroyed in the great fire at Devonport in 1840.
30 Date launched.
31 Hastings is also listed in appendix 4.
32 Pique is also listed in appendix 3.
33 Queen is also listed in appendix 4.
34 Collingwood is also listed in appendix 4.
35 Christie’s South Kensington, maritime auction catalogue 15 May 1997.
36 Royal Albert is also listed in appendix 4.
37 Victoria is also listed in appendix 4.
38 Date launched, date name changed (*) or date ship type changed (**).
39 Recorded in 1825 as having been the first ship to have her figurehead painted in colour.
40 Painted by Captain Lord Robert Manners who commanded the Resolution at The Saints in 1782.
41 In Chatham collection but described ‘all coloured to life’.
42 Shown when she was the hospital ship for seamen off Greenwich, including royal arms.
43 A crowned, male, full-length figure with the ship dressed overall with the flags of various nations, presumably before the demi-figure was carved in 1845.
44 The figurehead is in the form of a full-length wolverine.
45 Her female bust was said to be wearing a plaid bonnet, while the trail boards contained thistles ‘of Saxon green’.
46 The letter states ‘the head will in our opinion appear more to advantage by being properly painted in colours’.
47 Photographed in her early years as TS Foudroyant.
48 The figurehead is in the form of a standing bird.
49 Painted in 1831 while still in service with the GPO under the name Arrow.
50 The figurehead is in the form of a standing penguin.
51 Formerly Firebrand.
52 The figurehead is in the form of a standing bird.
53 Formerly Queen Charlotte.
54 Several photographs exist with differing paint schemes before he came ashore.
55 See also appendix 4 as IWM Q39789 shows HMS Orontes with a white figurehead.
56 Although most of the figurehead is painted white, her hair and belt are coloured.
57 The figurehead’s dress is painted white but her head and neck are coloured.
58 Formerly Trafalgar.
59 Raleigh had a second figurehead fitted (NMM C3885). Both were painted in colour.
60 The figurehead is in the form of a standing bird.
61 Formerly Nile.
62 Formerly Waterloo.
63 Formerly Frederick William.
64 See also appendix 4 as IWM Q39822 shows Pilot with a white figurehead.
65 Showing the female figurehead installed before she became the receiving ship at Hong Kong.
66 See also appendix 4 as IWM Q43300 shows Espiegle with a white figurehead.
67 Date launched, date name changed (*) or date ship type changed (**).
68 Shown white with a gilt chevron coronet.
69 Shown white with a gilt chevron coronet.
70 Now displayed ashore but assumed to be painted to original colour scheme.
71 Photographed in 1938–9 before being sold to the agent for the Mariners Museum, Newport News.
72 Shown with gilt epaulettes and blue garter sash.
73 Courtesy Bob Cook of Plymouth, no. P3/083.
74 Shown white with gilt epaulettes and lapel facings.
75 Owen, ‘The Devonport Figureheads’, 146.
76 A related photograph was included in the Navy and Army Illustrated, July 1897
77 Courtesy Bob Cook of Plymouth, no. P3/084.
78 Shown white with gilt collar, epaulettes and decorations.
79 Formerly Repulse.
80 Shown white with gilt chevron coronet.
81 Shown white with coloured necklace and ribbons.
82 ‘A uniform white except epaulettes and facings gilded and blue scarf across breast from shoulder.’
83 Seen at Woolwich before being displayed at the Millbank showroom.
84 By 1899 when broken up, her name had changed to Grampian.
85 Shown white with gilt epaulettes.
86 Shown white with a coloured mural crown.
87 White with gilt detail.
88 See also appendix 3 as IWM Q39790 shows Orontes with a coloured figurehead.
89 Shown white with coloured or gilt sash and trim to her dress.
90 Shown white with coloured trim to her dress.
91 Shown white with gilt epaulettes in this watercolour by William Wyllie.
92 See also appendix 3 as IWM Q21630 shows Pilot with a coloured figurehead.
93 Formerly Howe.
94 See also appendix 3 as Espiegle is shown with her figurehead painted in colour.
95 Amplified by a figurehead photograph in dock, private collection.
96 Formerly Investigator.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
David Pulvertaft
David Pulvertaft had a full career in the Royal Navy as a chartered engineer specializing in submarines and nuclear propulsion, followed by seven years in Whitehall advising the media on issues of national security. He has spent much of the last 20 years researching British warship figureheads. His two books on the subject are The Warship Figureheads of Portsmouth (2009) and Figureheads of the Royal Navy (2011).