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NEW Sea pendants by Patty Anderson Set sail in style with Skipjack's collection of nautical and beach inspired jewelry- perfect for everyday wear and your passion for nautical/coastal living. You'll adore our selection of woman's elegantly crafted nautical-themed jewelry including sterling silver sailboat necklaces and earrings by Barbara Vincent and distinctively coastal and beach designed creations by Patty Anderson and Betty Burnell. You can see our total nautical jewelry collection on our web gallery at Skipjack Nautical Wares .  Pictured above: NEW pewter beach jewelry "sea pendants" by Patty Anderson. Comes with silk  ribbon. Pendants measure 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inches. $28.00 "Something Fishy" a custom made necklace with matching earrings by Betty Burnell Sterling silver chain, betelnut beads, Hill Tribe silver fish. "Something Fishy" is an original beach creation by Betty Burnell from her Coastal Collection. Necklace with matching earring...

Shad carved from white cedar by Jac & Tricia Johnson for Skipjack Nautical Wares.  L 72" W 24" D 4 I feel inclined to begin this blog by stating that throughout the 30 plus years of being a dealer, appraiser and collector of period American Furniture as well as fine and decorative arts, that I have received the greatest pleasure from collecting American folk art. We have also been fortunate to have represented some of the best contemporary folk artist from around our great country. Our focus today of course is nautical/marine folk art, both period and contemporary and a number of collectors have found their way into our gallery doors to acquire them. Here are a few great examples that have adorned the rooms and walls of Skipjack throughtout the years. This early 20th century sailor-made folk compass box was hand-carved from walnut with whale bone clasp and keep. A carving of a mermaid carrying a light in oval adorns the top of ...

The stone fireplace mantle displays a Chelsea clock and a Bendix Friez barometer saved from salvage below Robert Lyn Nelson's "Extinction is forever." A Royal Copenhagen bowl, an Inuit soapstone fish carving,  part of an Alaskan Oosic and an old coin-dot lamp. A n unplanned excursion is certainly a great way to discover new horizons as well as promising prospects for upcoming blogs. So it was when our recent trip to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain of Virginia took us to visit with long-time friend and photographer Allen Graves. Allen, while visiting us a few months back to photograph 360 degree panoramic views of the interior and exterior of Skipjack’s showroom and the interior of the Schooner “Spirit of Independence,” told us about a friend's farm house that we should view and include in a Nautical Living blog. So off we went to meet with Jacqualin Davies and preview her wonderful farmhouse -- her home is nothing like you might expect in the mountains ...

Custom driftwood lamp made by Virginia artist Norris Padgett. A recent issue of Coastal Living Magazine featured “Our Favorite Modern Interiors- Stunning Contemporary Spaces by the Sea". The article titled “Blue Crush” written by Gena Sigala and photographed by Dominique Vorillon included as a centerpiece in this living room a custom driftwood table base with oval glass top (artist unknown). This exceptional table reminded me of the driftwood sculpture custom lamps created by Norris Padgett, a Virginia artist that we represent in our gallery, so I thought this to be the perfect time to feature a few of his creations on our blog. Norris Padgett’s inspiration for his driftwood and other coastal creations typically begins while beach-combing after a storm on his waterfront property located on the York River near historic Yorktown, Virginia. He enjoys his private time walking along the riverfront searching and collecting everything from seashells to large pieces of ...

Looking for an easy way to dress up and personalize your coastal/nautical interiors? Well here’s a style secret used by designers to create local interest to the finely-fitted nautical room. Replace your old lampshades with a custom-made nautical chart lampshade using a navigational chart from your local or favorite coastline. You can select from 1,000-plus U.S. coastal and Great Lakes nautical charts created and updated by NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration). Nautical chart lampshade not only create a great look to your room, but also becomes a point of conversation as you study the lighted charts, similar to viewing a terrestrial globe! Visit the NOAA site by clicking on this link to find the right nautical chart for your local waters. http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/OnLineViewer.html Skipjack offers custom nautical lampshades constructed in our own design center located in Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA. We use only the highest quality materials including auth...

The distant climes may us divide to think on you shall be my pride The Winds and Waves may prove unkind In me no change you’ll ever find. A magic spell will bind us fast And make me love you to the last Let Cupid then your heart incline to take me for your Valentine OK, so I am once again sitting here at my desk reviewing the list of upcoming blogs that I intend to write. It’s Valentines Day and Alison and I had earlier this morning exchanged a small assortment of gifts and cards. You know, there is nothing better than to spend Valentine’s Day with someone special, and it is a wonderful feeling to give someone you care about a truly unique gift. It is that idea that has stirred me to write this blog on Sailor’s valentines. As sailors traveled around the world, they often made or purchased mementos of their travels for their loved ones back home. As stated in Marine Art & Antiques "Jack Tar, A Sailor's Life 1750-1910" by J Welles and Rodney P. Carlisle,  "the sail...

R ecently, a customer visited us in our Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia showroom shopping for light fixtures to use on the exterior of her new oceanfront home. She was searching for high quality and durable lights that could withstand the sometimes inclement A tlantic weather but also be fitting for her nautically themed façade. I showed her a selection of authentic vintage cast brass fixtures once used onboard commercial and naval ships. These are by far, hands down, the finest (and most durable) cast brass fixtures ever produced with explosion proof glass covers surrounded by a thick brass cage. These fixtures are virtually non-destructible. Our customer was not accustomed to some of the ship lighting designs, so I showed her pictures demonstrating how other customers have used them in both the interior and exterior of their homes. She was delighted and selected the 90 degree passageway lights (see pictured). The heavy brass fixtures were exactly what she was looking for. Before leav...