Object Description
This collection comprises 97 varied antique fishing ‘priests’, or despatchers, diligently collected by Dave Watson over several decades, made from a variety of woods including rosewood, laburnum, lignum vitae, walnut, boxwood, ash, yew, maple and ebony. One elaborate piece is turned and laminated chestnut, ash and lime with ebony banding. Rarer examples are in bone, staghorn, whalebone or ivory and some have brass caps. Two are dated ‘I.N. 1718’ and ‘1806’ The highlight of the collection, however, is Queen Victoria’s narwhal and rosewood one which is carved with a crown flanked by the initials ‘V R.’ British, predominantly 19th century.
Lengths range from 6 ¼ inches to 14 ¾ inches
Published: Watson, Dave “Antique Fishing Priests: A Collection of wood turners’ art in angling across three centuries’. (Several copies accompany this collection.)
Ivory licence: 95ZTW8KT