Figurehead (object)
A figurehead is usually a carved wooden figure which is mounted on ships, especially sailing ships under the bowsprit. The term derives from Galion (Spanish for, balcony ' ) from, this was a porch in front of the prow of a galleon, which supported the bowsprit. First, figures were placed on the Galion of Spanish and Portuguese, later they were attached to the outside thereof. Although later ship types had no real Galion more, the name figurehead remained. In the superstition of sailors want the character to observe the course of the ship and save it from disaster.
In a figurative sense, one uses the term " figurehead " to designate specific individuals who pose a "living advertisement" of an association or an interest group or hold a managerial or leading function.
History
The great age of the figureheads began in the 17th century and lasted until the early 20th century. In the 18th century called the figurehead image of the ship.
The figurehead is often designed so that it has a reference to the boat name. In part, it also served as patron, who had influence on the success of a trip; their damage or even destruction was a bad omen, signaling great misfortune.
The shapes of the figureheads were transformed over time. In addition to the lions (on Dutch ships you can always find a lion, a coat of arms of the country) were mermaids and nymphs preferred, but warriors, knights, princes, shipowners, merchants with cylinder and delicate and powerful female characters. In Italy, have until today, many ships of the Italian Navy's Stella d' Italia, the Italian star, as a figurehead.
People representations may vary from head to toe or form especially on some younger ships - if they still get figureheads - only the head or a portrait from the waist up from. The form of wealth was decent even with representations of animals. An alternative to figureheads was and is the Krull or Krullgalion, also Bugkopf, a spiral ornament similar to a violin scroll. ( Engl. billet head or billet head) on U.S. ships he had his marriage of 1830 to 1880. A preserved example of a Krullgalion can be found at about the 1887 -built in England, now sailing under the German flag Amphitrite.
Legends
Figureheads a mystical meaning is often attributed to: the figurehead of the British frigate Brunswick, which was the Duke of Brunswick in Scottish national dress, had been fired from the head on June 1, 1794 hat. "It is not proper ," said some of them thought sailors " that the noble Lord confronts his enemies bare-headed ." The captain presented as a substitute his gold-braided Galahut available, after which the British fleet won against the French.
The American privateer General Armstrong led a figurehead of great resemblance to his portrait. When the ship had to be sunk in 1814 in Faial, in order not to fall into the hands of the enemy, the team insisted to save the figure. Despite cannon fire the figurehead was sawn off and taken to a boat ashore to safety.
Once, when a sailing ship was not run by the will of the master, the latter had ordered a sailor, the figurehead, a woman's shape, gently tickle the swabs the face and to say, " Loop, min Deern, loop to". After a few moments, a favorable wind had come up, and the ship had made a good trip.
The veracity of such stories the romantic seafaring remain speculative. For seafarers the image of Galionspopp ( doll ) was the personification of the ship itself, the soul of the ship that carried her and which she had entrusted himself.
Others
An extensive collection of figureheads is to visit the Altona Museum ( Hamburg) and the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven.
There are also the spellings " Galeonsfigur " and " Galleonsfigur " whose derivative resulting from the ornate sailing ship galleon type. Also popular as false is the spelling of " figurehead ".