Superyacht owners keep last figurehead carver afloat
SUPERYACHT owners who wish to have an element of maritime history worked into their decor have helped keep Britain’s last ship figurehead carver in business.
Andy Peters, from Waterstock, Oxon, said that, at one time, every major port would have had a ship’s carver to create the abundance of sculpture that decorated naval and merchant ships. But now the 67-year-old is the last one left.
He started woodworking aged 11 and was a carpenter before turning his attention to boats in 1990, earning a living through his business Maritima Woodcarving, mostly doing restorations for collectors and museums. Some of his works can sell for up to £30,000.
He says he spent more than a decade restoring traditional decorations on superyachts for owners who wanted a nod to maritime history onboard.
“Interior sculpture is a way of keeping figurehead carving alive and it was the bulk of my work for around 10 years,” he said. “There’s still some restoration work available on the interiors of superyachts.”
All his figureheads are made by hand, and the work has included carving seahorses and dolphins into wooden furniture, with heroes from Greek mythology a popular motif, too.
He has also carried out a host of restorations and original sculptures of ships’ figureheads, including building a replica figurehead for the Cutty Sark when the original started to rot.
Mr Peters conceded that his trade is dying as the interest in tall ships – sailing ships with several masts – dwindles among young people.
He said: “It’s quite a dying trade because there isn’t that much work. UK trade may be gone forever when I stop. I’m the last carver.”