English BLoG

By Peter Rindlisbacher Often, my art efforts have a direct link to my historical re-enacting.  A recent case in point was in Baltimore, participating in the Star Spangled Banner celebrations.  I towed my 27-foot longboat up from Texas, met with a Canadian crew, and some Maryland-based Royal Marines, and joined in the 1814 festivities. Driving to Baltimore, Md. from Texas with longboat in tow. The Maryland Yacht Club hosted us for the week, and we obliged by performing a wartime British boat landing at the Club.  We exchanged cannon shots, then I had fun with the crowd attending as an arrogant British naval officer, “… in time, you impulsive colonials will learn humility and your proper place in the world…”, and afterwards enjoyed a buffet dinner and chat with all combatants under a temporary truce.  The MYC gave me a gift club burgee pennant, and I surrendered my masthead Union Jack as a trophy of the affair. Re-enacting the landing of a British longboat in Baltimore...

Perilous Night; Naval Attack on Fort McHenry- Original Painting by Peter Rindlisbacher Oil on canvas measuring 48 X 72 inches, unframed. This just completed painting by marine artist Peter Rindlisbacher portrays the scene in the Ferry Branch of the Patapsco River off Fort McHenry about 1:;30 AM, September 14th, 1814. Nine armed barges full of picked men from the Royal Navy were discovered in the midst of their diversion attack, while Fort McHenry was being shelled with bombs and rockets from a line of British warships. The crossfire from the three U.S. forts and land batteries, and lack of progress in the British land attack, made the boats to withdraw out of range after a few hours of exchanging fire. Fort McHenry survived the night, of course, and a view of the flag still there by morning inspired the National Anthem. Previous portrayals of the 1814 bombardment of Baltimore have shown a view from the far distant line of British ships firing at Fort McHenry, or from the defenders` ram...

Skupjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery riverfront showroom is located in Olde towne Portsmouth, VA. By Toi wilson Portsmouth Virginia Department of Economic Development Portsmouth is a seaport town where maritime history and traditions created a way of life.  Today, homeowners and boaters look to recreate the days of nautical living through home décor, art, and apparel. Customers throughout Hampton Roads, and as far away as New Zealand, have discovered authentic nautical antiques and furnishings, original marine art, and handcrafted nautical accessories at Skipjack Nautical Wares and Marine Gallery here in Olde Towne Portsmouth. Skipjack's Chelsea Room features authentic nautical antiques and marine art. Custom made grate table. Skipjack Nautical Wares, celebrating 10 years in business this month, is located at One High Street in historic Downtown Portsmouth .  A decade ago, owners Alison and Joe Elder set sail on a journey to merge their passions for boating and uncove...

Full view of the Persky & Co anchor lantern. Today the company is known as PERKO. The PERKO Story consists of many interesting pieces. They make up a modern day marine hardware success story that goes back over 100 years! This is the first sentence from the Perko story, the history of the famous American marine lighting company as taken from their website. I had known enough about the Perko story to turn to it while researching this recently discoverd lantern and the article was the source that validated it's maker. So, this blog is in part about the Perko companies beginnings and is demonstrated by an example of one of the first marine lanterns produced by this famous marine hardware company. Name of PERSKY & CO., AJAX , NEW YORK, U.S.A. on hourglass shaped globe. This early example is of one of their first anchor lanterns produced when the company was created by F. Persky & Company, New York, lantern makers in the early 1900's. The company was in operation for abo...

Massive 48 star US ensign laid out in front of Skipjack Nautical Wares. It's a wonder what one might find digging around at local antiques and flea markets. And that is what we encountered this last Saturday at the Olde Towne Antiques to Flea Market here in Portsmouth, Virginia. Held the first Saturday of each month, the Olde Towne Portsmouth event is always full of interesting items, from the typical yard sale flea type finds to the most unexpected treasures. Last year, I discovered and purchased a Philadelphia windsor bowback side chair, branded with the name of the maker, John Letchworth (1759-1843). His shop was located on Third Street between Chestnut and Walnut (1784) and he actually made chairs for Thomas Jefferson and used at Monticello. More on this in a later blog. A view above the flag. Magnificent! This time we discovered an extremely large pile of wool bunting stuck in the corner of the vendors booth that appeared to be the colors and design of an American flag. Upon c...

Post or Anchor lantern made by Barbier, Benard & Turenne, Paris France. A recent discovery by our firm, this exceptional post or anchor lantern was produced by the French manufacturer Barbier, Benard & Turenne, Paris France. What makes this lantern so exceptional is that Barbier, Benars & Turenne, also known as BBT was a major manufacturer of the Fresnel lens that light up numerous of the lighthouses found along our countries coastlines. Notice the lighthouse styling of this exceptional maritime light- reminiscent of the LANTERN DESCRIPTION Manufacturers nameplate for Barbier, Benard & Turenne.   This fine brass lantern stands 14 1/2 inches tall and features a thick, 360 degree glass Fresnel type lens that survives without cracks or chips, protected by 6 heavy gauge cast brass guards. The upper body of the lantern is designed with a ball style chimney with a series of cylindrical vents on the bottom edge. The lower body measures 4 1/4 inches tall...

Schooners of all types and sizes will be docked along Portsmouth's riverside Saturday, October 13, 2012 as part of the 23rd Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. Photo by Joe Elder They're schooners here, there and just about everywhere along our riverside and you won’t want to miss it. That’s right, this Saturday, October 13, 2012, the City of Portsmouth, Virginia hosts the 23rd Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race post race celebration. The world’s largest gathering of schooners will race again from Annapolis, Maryland to Portsmouth, Virginia, with nearly 40 entries in this year's race. They'll be schooners of all types and sizes docked along Portsmouth’s waterfront for you to view, with some open to the public. The 23rd Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race from Annapolis, MD to Portsmouth, VA. Photo by Joe Elder  We also invite you to stop by (we'll, we're only a few steps away) and see all of the great new inventory here at Skipjack including ...

Carved and painted yellowfin tuna by Greg Pezzoni. Raised in Santa Barbara, on California's southern coastline until his early teens. Greg was exposed early to both fresh and salt water angling. Half day boats in the Santa Barbara channel and full day excursions to the city's famous wharf introduced him to numerous species, such as bonita, halibut, sheep head, sharks, rock fish and kelp dwellers of all kinds. A small lake within walking distance instilled his passion for largemouth bass fishing, while supplying mixed bags of bluegill, crappie and catfish. With back packing trips to the nearby Santa Ynez and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, Greg then added California's numerous trout species (including the coveted golden trout, California's state fish) to his fishing "have caught" list. Relocating to Kentucky, then North Carolina, enabled him to fish waters he had only read about. Carolina's famous outer banks, the Dan and New rivers of Virginia, and the TVA ...

U.S. Navy Binnacle & Engine Order Telegraph from the bridge of the Liberty Ship "JOSEPH PULITZER" In 1973, the Liberty Ship SS "JOSEPH PULITZER" was under tow, transferred from the James River to a salvage yard near Cape Henry, Virginia.  A survivor of WWII, the "JOSEPH PULITZER" was one of 200 Liberty ships that on  June 6, 1944 took  part in the D-Day landings. Today, only a few parts and pieces of the ship survive to tell the story. The ship's binnacle compass and engine order telegraph from the bridge were removed from the ship before salvage and are now on display at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery in Portsmouth, Virginia. From the previous owner - "The telegraph and binnacle were a gift from the captain of the Polish salvage tug that towed the liberty ship "JOSEPH PULITZER" (the vessel from which they came) to the salvage yard in 1973. Her hull number was #0644, her keel was laid August 1942 and she was delivered...

DESIGNED FOR FUN IN THE SUN Skipjack's new "Don't Give Up the Ship" nautical T-shirt. New from Skipjack in celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.  Skipjack's new "Don't Give Up the Ship" T-shirt with graphic artwork on back designed after a Bellamy carved eagle and in celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 with the famous quote by Captain James Lawrence. The front is non-pocketed and features the Skipjack Nautical Wares logo. Available in three colors; patriot red, navy blue and driftwood grey. Men's sizes medium through 2XL. Skipjack's Nautical Apparel. Tradition has it that Captain James Lawrence said these heroic words after being mortally wounded in the engagement between his ship, the U.S. frigate Chesapeake, and HMS Shannon on 1 June 1813. As the wounded Lawrence was carried below, he ordered "Tell the men to fire faster! Don't give up the ship!" Although Chesapeake was forced to surrender, Captai...