18th C Carved Cowrie Shell Ship Flying Childers

Price: SOLD

Sold by Findings

This is a finely carved cowrie shell, highly detailed. It’s artwork illustrates the clipper ship The Flying Childers launched in Boston in 1852. Her maiden voyage was to San Francisco. She made the voyage in 113 days. The captain was Jeremiah B White. This shell is decorated in patriotic imagery as well as nautical instruments. It is signed Horton. The ships captain in 1859 was a Captain Horton who I believe carved this shell. He was captain in 1859 and he left this East River wharf address in New York making the voyage to San Francisco in 117 days. This is the date I believe this conch shell was carved and signed. This is a very historical piece of San Francisco, the California Gold Rush and Clipper Ship history. The shell comes with it’s rosewood, velvet lined, with striped brass inlayed oval period enclosure. This case measures 5 3/4 L” X 4 W” The shell measures 3 3/4”L X 2 3/4”W. Please note fine hairline on top of shell. The piece is period and hand done. A historic piece of Americana. More images upon request.