Gun Decks

The Naval Gun Decks...

Over the past forty years I have attentively studied and researched sailing ships and crews from Pharaoh's era to sailing navies of the world. In doing so, I gravitated, in the course of a decade, toward producing high-end originals.

The gun deck is a product of my research -the 'open door' to men and their machines behind their floating wooden walls. To this end do I produce these pieces in wood and out of wood.

In meticulous fashion have I had the opportunity to carve my figures in such a way that not only add dimension to these gun decks, but also 'scope' by way of realism and accuracy not seen in contemporary works. Furthermore, because these are handcrafted in pine, the patina of the paint absorbs and antique the subject matter to bring out the natural folds in the clothing and facial expressions.

No two carvings are alike and this is the signature of mastery. Not so of myself, but rather in the method of how I apply the technique and associate the pieces to their assigned schematics. This could be a yelling Marine or a Captain directing a broadside. Powder 'monkeys' racing to their assigned stations, men assisting their wounded, or crews running out, firing or loading cannon. In essence, there is 'life' on these decks, produced in miniature, which tell a story, or act that is rarely seen in wood.

My first gun deck of the USS CONSTITUTION c.1812, produced in 1996, is evident of thirty years of painstaking research. Since then I produced several pieces reflecting the maritime without compromise or suggestion. This firm commitment has made these sculptures the forerunner of its kind. I have had several commissions/purchases of these works and now bring them to the Internet for the first time. I am now in the process of researching the French, Spanish and Danish ships of the period. If interested, I would be most delighted to respond. Also, I can produce custom pieces, provided there is sufficient data.

Currently, I'm working on a beautiful gun deck cutaway of H.M.S. PRINCE c.1670. This wood sculpture will be finished by late 2006 and is currently open for a buyer.

Please view some of my samples, which will periodically change as they are produced. Those, which are currently for sale, will have a price quote. Thank you for viewing these pages. God bless.