Christopher Clarke Antiques

Antique Sailor’s Small Rubber

This sailor’s Rubber is made of lignum vitae and can be considered particularly small in size. It looks like its maker recycled it of timber that had a previous use. It has a number of turning rings with two partial rings on the sides of the rubbers wedge, suggesting that section has been re-shaped. It was not uncommon to make use of whatever spare wood could be found to hand, on board ship and sailors were adept at making their own tools. Rubbers were also known as Liners, Markers and Presses and would be used for smoothing seams in canvas. As the names imply, this was done by rubbing and pressing to flatten the seam. The rubber is particularly nice for its unusual size, sharp turnings and dark timber. Early to mid 19th Century.