The Carved Wooden Bust of Captain Kelsick Wood (1771 - 1840).
(Post in preparation).
Carved by James Fell of Maryport.
Currently in store at the Winterthur Museum, Delaware.
Kelsick Wood, Mariner, Carlisle Hatter and Timber Merchant, and Workington and Maryport shipbuilder, journal keeper, watercolour artist, ships carver and all round good egg.
and another of his unfortunate son Wilton Wood (1805 - 1832), who died in a phaeton carriage accident at Moresby Hall. (see photographs below).
This post forms part of the researches into the two life size carved wooden busts of John Wood dated 1754 and 1767, (father of Kelsick Wood) and a bust of his brother William Wood dated 1767 which has expanded into researches into researches into the busts of Kelsick Wood and his unfortunate son Wilton Wood II carved by James Fell of Maryport..
I am very grateful to Ian Smith who recently discovered the location of the bust of Kelsick Wood at the Winterthur Museum, Delaware, USA and who rediscovered the location of the 7 portrait miniatures of Kelsick Wood and his immediate family which had been part of his researches into ships carvers James Brooker and his son. Ian has freely shared his information with me and I am most grateful.
I am also very grateful to Ann Wagner at Winterthur for providing the material on the bust of Kelsick Wood in the Winterthur files which had remained unidentified until recently discovered at Winterthur by Ian Smith.
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The Bust of Kelsick Wood.
Sold from his 1969 catalogue by the American dealer Norm Flayderman to the Winterthur Museum.
Norm Flayderman also owned the elm bust of John Wood (see photographs below), which reappeared recently at auction in Maine and is now in a private collection -
but where is the bust of the unfortunate Wilton Wood II last seen when the three were photographed together in 1939?
Kelsick Wood (1771 - 1840).
Photograph taken after the restoration! of the bust.
Winterthur Museum, Delaware Ref. 1968.0018
Carved Pine bust.
28" tall.
dated 1824
and inscribed Jas Fell.
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American Dealer Norm Flayderman, the 1968 Catalogue entry.
Photographs courtesy The Winterthur Collection.
These images are of the bust after it had been stripped of paint prior to the sale to Winterthur.
It is my guess is that it was stripped with caustic soda, a common method at the time for removing paint from pine wood objects. I talk from experience.
Unfortunately, to my mind, the bust was then filled (described in the Winterthur files as spackled) and liberally repainted - I believe that it has lost something in the process - in these more enlightened times it would have been dry scraped back to the original, first layer of paint.
I am very grateful to Ann Wagner of the Winterthur Collection, Wilmington, Delaware, USA for providing me with this image and for accessing the files of the Winterthur collection.
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Kelsick Wood as ships carver.
The Launching of the brig/snow Eliza Heywood built by Kelsick Wood at Maryport,
An intriguing reference to the carving skills of Kelsick Wood.
in the Cumberland Paquet of 18 March 1834.
I have not as yet located any references to any further carvings of Kelsick Wood.
For the Eliza Heywood see Whitehaven Archives ref . DH/56
Notes: the Eliza Heywood was built by K Wood and Sons, Maryport, launched on 22 July 1834 and registered at the port of Whitehaven. Her managing owner, solicitor Edwin Holwell Heywood, was also clerk to Whitehaven Town and Harbour Trustees. His eldest son Captain Edwin Heywood, who had been employed by T and J Brocklebank of Whitehaven but was unable to obtain a position as captain with their fleet, supervised the construction and sailed as master of the Eliza Heywood for 5 voyages between 1834 and 1840.
The first three voyages made a profit but the fourth a loss,
owing to the fraudulent activities of Barry and Company of Swansea who went
into liquidation owing the Eliza's owners £800. The final voyage also made a
loss, partly due to Captain Heywood's extravagance. Indeed the owners were
still pursuing him for £1,500 in 1843.
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A Miniature Portrait of Kelsick Wood by the Scottish Miniaturist John Faed.
This portrait along with five others of his immediate family was painted when the 19 year old John Faed accompanied his father James Faed to Maryport where his father was involved in the construction of the swing bridge across the river at the harbour. It is thought that he painted various local dignitaries whilst he was in the area - more research is needed
A low resolution image of a very fine portrait miniature by the talented 19 year old Scotsman John Faed. Currently in a private collection.
Hopefully I will be able to obtain permission to obtain much higher resolution photographs in due course. It might also be useful to see the backs of these miniatures.
One of a group of 6 miniatures of the Wood family, dated 1838 by the precocious John Faed (1819 - 1902).
In the same group there is also a miniature profile portrait of William Wood by a different hand - perhaps that of Kelsick Wood.
Whitehaven Archives ref. PH /1617
The photograph of the portraits was deposited along with the thesis /notes on the Maryport ships carver James Brooker at the Whitehaven Archives about 24 years ago by the indefatigable Ian Smith whose assistance in these researches has been invaluable.
At the time Ian Smith, working from the notes of Dr John Crerar at Carlisle Archives believed that these Wood family busts were probably carved by James Brooker.
see - https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-2055-1/dissemination/pdf/Article_Level_Pdf/tcwaas/002/2000/vol100/tcwaas_002_2000_vol100_0014.pdf
For John Faed and the Faed family of painters see The Faeds, A biography by Mary McKerrow 1982.
John Faed (31 August 1819 - 22 October 1902).
Brought up in Girthon, Galloway a short distance across the Solway Firth, in 1838 his father also John had a contract to construct the swing bridge over the dock in the harbour at Maryport. He was accompanied to Maryport by his son who painted numerous portraits of the local gentry of Maryport, Whitehaven and Workington. Two years later he moved to Edinburgh.
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The Provenance of the Kelsick Wood Bust and notes from Winterthur Museum.
Winterthur Museum, 1968.
Acquired January 14, 1968 by Winterthur Museum from the highly respected American antiques dealer Norman Flayderman from his catalogue No. 79, item #368.
Note the catalogue
states "old paint finish has been stripped off to bare wood..." Also:
"It is believed, but not verified, that Wood was a ship builder or
shipyard owner and descendant of long line of ship builders..."
"I regret, very much, that I am not able to supply any further than that described in the catalog regarding its background. In every case where I do have a known and/or documented history, we always try to keep such information intact and supply it to the purchaser. I note that in our description of the item (368, Catalog 79) we specifically mentioned that it (is believed, but not verified, that Wood was a ship builder or shipyard owner etc.).
This information was merely word of mouth history that was passed on to me when I originally acquired the item in north eastern section of Massachusetts from another dealer in Nautical material.
This piece was acquired with another carved bust at the time of an ancestor of K.W. Wood of 18th century period. That other item was sold earlier in our catalog #74. Although very similar in style, the carving was distinctly different and, obviously, not carved by the same hand that did the one you acquired and showed its considerable age as well; that one was inscribed with the following "JOHN WOOD -- 1754 36 YR."
Again, let me say that the information
regarding the attribution was merely that supplied by the party from which I
acquired it. He was a very reliable source, not prone to fabricating stories - however, as is so common in this business, dealers and sellers do not often
care to divulge their own source of material and/or information and as such I
can only repeat it, but add that "not varified."
The information above confirms that the busts of John and Kelsick Wood had remained together until 1968, but we have no provenance for these busts. Norm Flayderman does not mention the bust of the younger man.
Where is the bust of Wilton Wood II now?
Kelsick Wood from the Magazine Antiques of December 1968
Image supplied by Ann Wagner of the Winterthur Museum, Delaware.
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James Fell (b. in Maryport) shipbuilder was living at Strand Street, aged 57 with his wife Mary (aged50) and children Elizabeth (22), Robert (20), Mary (18), Martha (14) and James 10 (in the 1841 Maryport Census).
He is described in the 1841 Maryport Census as a retired ship builder with his wife Mary and daughter Mary and later on the Quay side in Maryport (Census 1851) which was alongside the shipyard of Kelsick Wood
This James Fell is almost certainly the carver of the bust of Kelsick Wood.
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The Fells appear to be related to the Woods by marriage - John Wood's daughter Sarah married Joseph Fell (1745 - 1807).
John Wood's wife Sarah d. 1807, left money and furniture in her will to her grand daughter Martha Fell.
W Fell and Co were ship owners at Workington in 1811 ( Jollies Directory of Cumberland).
A James Fell married Mary Swinburne of Chapel Bank at Workington 23 March 1828
So far I have been unable to establish a direct relationship between James Fell and the Woods.
Portrait of James Fell from Kelsick Wood's Journal no. 6
with faint pencil inscription denoting the sitter beneath (probably by Wilton William Wood).
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Carlisle Journal 18 Mar 1837. A short notice of the death of Robert Fell.
"At Workington Mr. Robert FELL, for many years superintendent of the Low Shipbuilding-yard, aged 80 years. The Low ship yard at Workington was the yard of Kelsick Wood before he took over the yard at Maryport and the yard of his father John Wood".
At this point I haven't yet identified the relationship between James Fell the Carver, and William Fell and Robert Fell, superintendent of The Low Ship Yard at Workington.
The carved and dated wooden bust of Kelsick Wood.
Inscribed K WOOD 1824 Jas. FELL.
Currently in store in the collection of Winterthur, in Delaware, USA.
This self portrait of Kelsick Wood is from one of the six Journals written by Kelsick Wood (this is from one of three journals /notebooks in a private collection) - it has been annotated "above a likeness of K Wood" in pencil by WWW.
Col. Wilton William Wood who was the son of John Wood - and grandson of Kelsick Wood.
So it would appear that these journals were once with Col. Wilton William Wood.
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Mrs Mary Wood (1772 - 1841, nee Inman) by Kelsick Wood from one of the three journals currently in a private collection.
With pencil annotation again on the right perhaps Wilton William Wood.
Mary Wood, née Inman, the widow of Kelsick Wood died
in 1841.
Her father John Inman had died and been buried in Northwich, Cheshire in 1849, whilst staying with his son Dr William Blamire Inman
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The illustration above came from the excellent book by John and Ann Ferguson - Captain Kelsick Wood (1771 - 1840) Mariner, Carlisle Hat Manufacturer ,Workington and Maryport Shipbuilder, published by Coldharbour in 2012 - it is difficult to find and I am indebted to Simon Brown for providing me with a copy.
The input of John Ferguson has been invaluable in putting this and other posts together.
Kelsick Wood was the most famous Maryport ship builder, son of John Wood (1717 - 88) shipbuilder of Rockcliffe (the Endeavour), Whitehaven and Workington and, Sarah Wood (d. 1804) nee Wilson.
My intention in this blog post is to present the two busts - Kelsick Wood and Wilton Wood II and to discuss the possibilities that the three dated earlier busts of John 1754 and 1767 and William Wood (1767) might be related to those of Kelsick Wood and his son Wilton Wood II.
The two life size carved wooden busts of John Wood
The black painted bust in pine is inscribed In Wood 1767 aged 47.
The semi stripped bust in elm is inscribed John Wood 1754 aged 36 y.
Image on the left from Georgian Group Journal.
Image on the Right courtesy North East Auctions, New Hampshire.
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It is very possible that all these busts were created in the 19th century, but to my eye the dated busts (1754 and 1767) have 18th century style socles.
But it is therefor possible that the socles of the busts of Kelsick Wood senior and the bust of Wilton Wood were carved to match the earlier dated busts.
Dendrochronology would answer this question.
But until the bust of the Wilton Wood II reappears and we have higher resolution photographs of it, particularly of the back and any inscription of it - it is impossible to make a fully informed judgement.
As the bust of John Wood (1718 - 78) was recently rediscovered in the USA with the Flayderman provenance it is possible that all three busts were exported to America in the mid 1960's and the bust of the younger man awaits discovery.
One thing is quite clear - the busts of John Wood and the two Kelsick Busts were together when the photographs (on the tea trolley) by Mary Williamson were taken, sometime around 1938, they were perhaps at that time still with descendants.
Where is yet to be determined.
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The provenance of all 6 Kelsick Wood journals is so far unknown.
One is at Maryport Maritime Museum (number 6), Sold by Mitchells Auctioneers of Cockermouth.
Two at the National Maritime Museum (not numbered). Provenance yet to be determined
Three are with a private collector.
Two of these were sold through Moon's Bookshop of Whitehaven and another through London Maritime specialist auctioneer Charles Miller.
I am very grateful to Charles Miller who has been extremely helpful in putting me in contact with the owner of the three journals.
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The Mary Williamson Tea Trolley photographs.
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Photograph provided by Simon Brown.
The photograph of the photographs 28 July 2022 below were recently copied by the writer in the files of Dr Crerar at Carlisle Archives.
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The three tea trolley busts in an unknown location taken 1938/9.
I believe they were probably still in Cumberland at the time.
The busts of John Wood, together with those of Kelsick Wood and his son Wilton Wood (which is probably contemporary with the rediscovered bust of Kelsick Wood currently in store at the Winterthur Museum, Delaware).
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John Wood inscribed dated 1754.
Photographed on the same tea trolley as the busts of Kelsick Wood and his son Wilton Wood II.
The bust of John Wood as it appeared in the auction catalogue of Northeast Auctions in 2017.
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The Bust of Wilton Wood.
Where is it now? A photograph of the back of the bust would be very useful in all this.
Wilton Wood II.
Image from one of the three journals still in private hands.
From the excellent Captain Kelsick Wood by John and Ann Ferguson.
Figurehead of the Wilton Wood built by Kelsick Wood.
Wilton Wood, Brig, 243tons launched 1833. 18 Sept (built for Stockdale & Co.)
Another image from one of the three journals still in private hands.
From the excellent Captain Kelsick Wood by John and Ann Ferguson.
List of the cost of sundries for the Wilton Wood, Brig, 243tons, launched 18 Sept 1833. (built for Stockdale & Co.)
Another image from one of the three journals still in private hands.
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It should be noted that John Ferguson in his excellent Captain Kelsick Wood.... pub 2021 by Cold Harbour Press was unaware of the location of the dated 1754 bust of John Wood and the inscription on the back or of the later 1767 version, and relied on Dr Crerar's photographs and flawed notes at Carlisle Archives, when writing about the busts and early Wood family history.
I can find nothing in Dr Crerars files that tells us where these photographs came from - it is possible that they were with a descendent of Kelsick Wood, the identity of Mary Williamson remains to be discovered - the Kelsick Wood Journals were known about and were possibly with the busts when the photographs were taken, but we cannot be sure until we discover the earlier provenance of all the Wood family material.
Currently we have no provenance for any of the 6 known Kelsick Wood Journals - the two from Moon's Whitehaven Bookshop, came into their shop from a local house clearer - when asked they thought from St Bees.
Three of these journals are now in a private collection (the two from Moons Bookshop via Mr Katz a Dealer in Canada and another also from Mr Katz sold by Charles Miller Auctioneers, London in 2016 - another is with the Maryport Maritime Museum and two at the National Maritime Museum.
From John Ferguson's notes in Captain Kelsick Wood... pub. Coldharbour - 2021.
"A bust of John Wood (Workington shipbuilder) (1717-1789), son of John Wood of Wilton, Haile Cumberland and Elizabeth Kelsick was carved
in the mid 1800s, probably by James Brooker, which portrayed John in 1754, aged
36. This would have been based on the oil painting which was left by John's
wife Sarah (nee Wilson) to their son Kelsick Wood when she died in 1807. A photograph of the
bust is held in Carlisle Archives CRO D/Cr/25.
A bust of (Captain) Kelsick WOOD (1771-1840), son of John Wood (Workington shipbuilder) and Sarah Wilson, was carved which portrayed him in 1825, aged 54. A
photograph of this bust is held in CRO D/Cr/25. This was probably based on a portrait
of Kelsick and would be produced by the master ship figurehead and stern carver
James Brooker after he began working in Maryport in circa 1840.
Wilton Wood (1805-1832) son of (Captain) Kelsick Wood and Mary Inman. According to Dr. John W. Crerar, a few years after Wilton's death a
bust of him was carved by the master ship figurehead and stern carver James
Brooker".
We now know that the bust was much more likely to have been carved by James Fell and was contemporary with the signed and dated bust of Kelsick Wood of 1824.
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Locating the Journals of Kelsick Wood.
Annoyingly none of these six journals currently have a provenance.
Certainly Kelsick Wood kept at least six journals which were profusely illustrated with watercolour sketches by him, of ships, ship carvings, caricatures and many very competent sketches and doodles - perhaps more are awaiting discovery!
Two are at the National Maritime Museum. SPB/45 and SPB/46
Three are with a private collector (November 2022).
Charles Miller Auctioneers sold one of these three journals in November 2017, which is now with the same private collector.
Two of these journals were recently with Moon's Bookshop of Maryport - I contacted Moons who informed me that the journals had come from a house clearance in St Bees, but they had no more information as to their provenance.
All three of these journals were recently in the possession of Canadian book dealer M. Benjamin Katz of Toronto, who sold them to the English private collection.
Here is his catalogue description:
8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.
On offer is an unparalleled trio [3] of manuscript notebooks and late Georgian Era relics of British maritime commerce and nautical art history, hand written and drawn by Kelsick Wood, a Maryport England ship builder, figurehead designer and chandler whose significant journals detail the 'behind the scenes' aspects of shipbuilding and ship rigging and supplying all manner of ships' stores and repairs in the early part of the 19th Century.
The journals are filled with quotes for work on a variety of vessels [including Mary Jones, Sloop Mary, Postlethwaite, Eliza Heywood, Sylla, Snow Magnet, James Ray, Sterling, Widows Friend, Wilton Wood, Coeur de Lion and many, many more], costs of materials including teak and oak, orders for anchors, ropes, rigging, sails and accounts etc.
But what makes this trio of extraordinary historical manuscripts ascend the category of true rarity are the many dozens and dozens of superb illustrations; portraits, group scenes, figureheads, ships, animals, mythical creatures and exotic African princesses and 'Britannia' herself and so much more littered throughout most relating to a particular ship, some drawn in situ, we surmise for use at a later date. Some of these drawings which include two loose black and white sketches one in pen and ink another in pencil range from character studies to coats of arms portraits and several figurehead designs.
The skill of the artist is nothing short of remarkable. His portraits bring to life the clients and characters he deals with or records for future reference and given his limited palette he does a superb job.
The books: 'No 2' as titled on the cover a notebook used by Kelsick Wood a provincial Ship builder from Maryport from c1828 onwards detailing many aspects of his work. Included are a variety of small sketches/ illustrations. 'No 3' [titled on the cover] on manuscript pagination as follows 28 pages prelims including a thumb index alphabetically and approximately 122 pages most paginated once for each pair of facing pages - one or two pages trimmed leaving only the top halves of the pages - one portrait neatly cut out. 135mm x 188mm. 'No 4' [title on the cover] dated in the front in manuscript K Wood and Sons October 1833 with a small sketch of the vessel Wilton Wood, contains a similar mixture of day to day accounts and a variety of sketches - in both note books it is not clear whether these sketches were intended designs actually commissioned or whether these were just ideas or even a sketch of the actual figureheads of vessels the ship builder worked on. 26 pages prelims with a thumb index alphabetically and 136 pages. 135mm x 188mm.
The pair contain approximately 144 pages with at least a single sketch - others have groups of sketches some others are full page, ten designs for figureheads but many other sketches of other aspects of details of proposed work including several partial details of various vessels sterns.
EDITOR'S NOTE: We note that The Royal Museums at Greenwich have a private account book which belonged to Kelsick Wood for the period 1839-40 recording similar details to the above - details of Ships built and the purchase of materials etc.
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One of the journals is now with Maryport Maritime Museum, who have provided me with their copy.
I am very grateful to Sue Fox of Maryport Maritime Museum.
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I have to thank Charles Miller, who initiated my research into these journals and for putting me in touch with the current owner of three of the journals .
The owner has also been most helpful and he put me in touch with David Malcolm, a Maryport historian who is writing about early industry in Maryport from 1750's onward.
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Examples of pages from the Kelsick Wood Journals below.
For one of the sources of the contents of the Moon's Kelsick Wood Journals see -
There is also a transcription of another earlier Kelsick Wood journal in the archives at Carlisle - CRO D/Cr/25 which contains list of vessels built, three letters etc.
Much of this journal has been transcribed and published in Captain Kelsick Wood, Mariner .... by John and Ann Ferguson.
I have also found one reference in the Cumberland Pacquet newspaper that suggests Kelsick Wood was also a carver.
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The 6 Kelsick Wood Journals -
Illustrations from the journals when at Moon's Bookshop, Whitehaven.
A couple of illustrations below from the Kelsick Wood journal from c.1835 onward.
These were sold by Moon's bookshop of Whitehaven.
These two journals along with another, are now with a private collector, who I believe intends to publish an in depth study some time in the future.
Whilst certainly not proof that KW was a carver, they shows that he had the ability to produce excellent sketches and perhaps was capable of transferring his ideas to three dimensions.
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The Kelsick Wood Journals.
I am hopeful of obtaining much higher resolution images in due course.
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Illustrations below from the Charles Miller Auctioneers website.
The Kelsick Wood Journal.
WILLIAM MITCHELL OF MARYPORT (1806-1900).
The Launch of the Collingwood from Kelsick Woods Yard, Maryport.
Copy of an 1829's original by William Brown, which had once belonged to Wilton Wood (1805 - 32) the unfortunate son of Kelsick Wood.
Sold by Bonham's Auction Rooms, London - Lot 25, 7th October 2015.
Information and illustration courtesy Bonhams.
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22755/lot/25/
Signed and dated W. MITCHELL/1884' (lower left) and bears
two other signatures 'W. BROWN' (lower left) and 'JENKINSON/LIVERPOOL/1819'
(lower centre)
Oil on canvas
70.5 x 107cm (27 3/4 x 42 1/8in).
Provenance: The Estate of Baroness James (the author P.D. James).
A photograph of the original canvas before it was lined
shows an inscription on the reverse that reads as follows: "Launch of the
Collingwood" from the/yard. Keswick [sic] Wood Maryport/ This picture
copied from the original/ by permission of Wilton Wood Esq./ Painted in 1819 by
W. Brown, Maryport/and Jenkinson of Liverpool/ W Mitchell Maryport 1884'
Incorrectly dated 1819 - the correct date is 1829.
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Maryport.
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