SOLD

19TH CENTURY SHIP'S FIGUREHEAD depicting the full figure of the famous Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind who was nicknamed "The Swedish Nightingale". A lovely and classic depiction of the young Jenny with her hair held back by a ribbon bow that has long tails dropping down her back. Her right hand holds flowers against her breasts. She is standing on scroll and leaf motif carving. Overall height 55". Condition very nice throughout. One of a collection of four female figureheads that we recently purchased from a collector who acquired most of them in the 1960's. Over the years they were professionally repainted using a palette of soft, pastel colors. Jenny Lind was an incredibly successful, mid 19th century, performer who ultimately ended up with a lucrative contract from P. T. Barnum to do some 150 concerts throughout America. Her story is fascinating and well worth reading.