Wooden Placque

[Max Sinclair]

A friend has purchased from a Herefordshire antique shop an octagonal wooden board carrying a carved steam barge hull with painted decoration around it. He weould be grateful if any reader could identify it with further information. "Annie" around the top, No 12 above boat and Shipley painted around the bottom. Cluster of roses on each side. By age of paint this is quite old. Comments please.

[Pluto]

A friend has purchased from a Herefordshire antique shop an octagonal wooden board carrying a carved steam barge hull with painted decoration around it. He weould be grateful if any reader could identify it with further information. "Annie" around the top, No 12 above boat and Shipley painted around the bottom. Cluster of roses on each side. By age of paint this is quite old. Comments please.

Robert Foster of Shipley had a square-sterned horse boat called Annie, built at Apperley Bridge in 1911, which went to the Sowerby Bridge area in 1919. Jonathan Rennard's firm, Canal Carriers Ltd, Shipley, also had a boat called Annie, though I have no further details. It's difficult to give any further information without a photo, but the cluster of roses does suggest that it is a fake.

[Max Sinclair]

Robert Foster of Shipley had a square-sterned horse boat called Annie, built at Apperley Bridge in 1911, which went to the Sowerby Bridge area in 1919. Jonathan Rennard's firm, Canal Carriers Ltd, Shipley, also had a boat called Annie, though I have no further details. It's difficult to give any further information without a photo, but the cluster of roses does suggest that it is a fake.

Thanks for the information.This is a steamboat with a tall funnel and rounded stern.The roses are simple not the usual 'Cabbage' rose.

[Max Sinclair]

My link

 

Here are two shots of the placque hope that helps identify it

[Pluto]

My link

 

Here are two shots of the placque hope that helps identify it

There are several things wrong from a traditional point of view. Firstly, all sign writing on the L&LC seems to have had the shading to the lower right of the letter. It is also too decorative for Yorkshire, with this type of lettering generally being used in the West Lancashire area. Secondly, the square transom was very rarely used in Yorkshire, and even then was a comparatively modern development, post-dating steam power. Also, I do not know of any square-sterned steam boats, and the rudder is as used on horse boats. The roses are too naïve for a painter on the L&LC, where all the examples I have seen are of high-quality representations. To me, the plaque appears to have been done fairly recently and heavily varnished by someone who has read a little about narrowboat decoration, but doesn't know much about that on the L&LC.

[Paul H]

There are several things wrong from a traditional point of view. Firstly, all sign writing on the L&LC seems to have had the shading to the lower right of the letter. It is also too decorative for Yorkshire, with this type of lettering generally being used in the West Lancashire area. Secondly, the square transom was very rarely used in Yorkshire, and even then was a comparatively modern development, post-dating steam power. Also, I do not know of any square-sterned steam boats, and the rudder is as used on horse boats. The roses are too naïve for a painter on the L&LC, where all the examples I have seen are of high-quality representations. To me, the plaque appears to have been done fairly recently and heavily varnished by someone who has read a little about narrowboat decoration, but doesn't know much about that on the L&LC.

 

I'm afraid I agree that it is likely to be a fake. I've seen quite a few of these kinds of things on ebay and elsewhere and I believe many of them were produced as "pub decor." I've got a painted cupboard bought at the Braunston Show about 20 years ago which is quite convincing until you look inside. The company that produced it was called Making History and specialised in pub decor and museum "mock ups." You also see painted "seaman's chests" in antique shops - again fake and a great many plaques with a 3D element like the one pictured here.

 

What does the back of the plaque look like? Is there any patina of age?

 

Paul

[tafelberg]

I have a number of these, including a massive one that has "Thames Lock" on it, I will get photos later. As far as I know mine came from a Pub and were just decoration.

[matty40s]

I'm not averse to borrowing a pint glass on occasions if it has a decent ale brand on it. However, leaving with half the wall furnishings and bric-a-brac is taking it a bit far.

[Max Sinclair]

My friend is going to Shipley next month and says he will enjoy touring the pubs to find a home for it.