R. Lee figurehead pattern book

This pattern-book was created by R. Lee, a wood carver of figureheads for ships from Liverpool who was working in Jersey, Channel Islands in St. Helier opposite the Weighbridge pier. While thus far it has been impossible to definitively identify R. Lee, records show a Richard Lee, born in Liverpool in 1815 and living there in 1851, a woodcarver by trade. He was married to Mary Lee (nee Venn) whose brother was also a woodcarver. Given that records of the family show that they moved frequently to various port cities, it’s likely that the family lived in Jersey in the early 1840s.

The use of figureheads on the bow of ships is evident back to ancient history, but they were most common from the 16th century until the 20th century when ships began to be constructed in metal. Figureheads were a carved representation of the spirit of the vessel which contributed to the safety and success of the ship. They were often historical or allegorical and represented mythological creatures, patriotic heroes or religious emblems.