CARVED & GILT WOOD CATHEAD PURPORTEDLY FROM THE HISTORIC SHIP USS CONSTITUTION.

CARVED & GILT WOOD CATHEAD PURPORTEDLY FROM THE HISTORIC SHIP USS CONSTITUTION. The catheads are the projecting pieces of timber near the bow which serve as crane booms for hoisting anchors to the rail. The “cat” is the complication of tackle that is used to raise the anchor from the waterline to the cat heads. The cat tackle has a multiple block to aid in lifting the anchor up to the cathead. In other words, once you have raised the anchor and stow the main cable column you need to tie up the anchor where it wouldn’t swing free and damage the ship. This was the cathead. Once raised the anchors would then be secured to the cathead until they were ordered to cast off again. The anchor ring is catted by a large hook attached to the projecting cathead. Generally a cathead is an outside spool or winch used in handling hauling lines and in topping the lowered boat. Catheads derived the name from the carvings or cast iron caps in the forms of cats or lions, the cat in the 18th Century being the royal pet. These decorative heads were on the end of the cat head were often plated in gold, and one of the few ornaments found on a war ship. This large carved oak cat’s face with gilt surface was purportedly at one time used as a cap for the cathead on the ship USS Constitution. In an affidavit provided by Kenneth McBean in March, 2006. Mr. Bean states that in the 1980s he had a business called “Artisan Furniture Finishing Services Company” located in Boston, Massachusetts. “I had many important clients in the Boston area and in particular I did work for the Navy and specifically for the USS Constitution. I was hired at several different times to refinish and refurbish particular items for the USS Constitution. I regularly dealt with a high ranking officer who employed my services on several occasions. In June of 1987 or thereabouts I visited this officer in his office. He had on the floor two catheads from the USS Constitution, one had been restored and one was unrestored. He told me that he was not pleased with the restoration on one and that he would like me to do the restoration on the other. The cathead showed extensive weathering with cracks, chips and loss of paint and gold. After agreeing to do the work he gave me the cathead.” Mr. McBean goes on to say that he wanted to do the job right and took a lengthy period of time and by the time he returned the cathead, the officer who he had worked with was no longer there and despite various attempts to return the cathead and be paid for his work, he was unsuccessful. Included with McBean’s affidavit is a copy of a naval requisition form for refinish work done by McBean, for the referenced commanding officer of the USS Constitution. The receipt dated June 12, 1987 was a receipt for the return of previous refinishing work that McBean had just completed for 15 chairs. This return receipt was generated at the same time he received the cathead. This receipt does not reference the cathead, only the work that he was returning. The cathead cap described here is a large rectangular piece of carved oak, it is laminated of two heavy pieces of oak and features heavy carved detailed features of a cats head. It has been drilled for holes in each of the four corners and the reverse of the oak plaque has a mounting hole in the center. The front surface of the cathead retains essentially all of its replaced gold finish, which is in excellent condition; having never been exposed to the elements. The plaque has various age cracks or drying cracks; the largest of which is evident on the back of the plaque and clearly was restored with filler by McBean at the time he did his work. The top of the oak plaque and the lower portion of the oak plaque exhibit water stains which were likely a result of previous use before it was restored. The USS Constitution was built in 1797 and eventually adopted the name Old Ironsides due to the fact that cannonballs frequently bounced off her sides in combat during the War of 1812. The Constitution was one of America’s first warships and as such can be considered as one of the most historic US Naval Warships in existence today. Please note in regards to this cathead Mr. McBean does not state nor do we intend to purport that this carved oak cathead was the original cathead carved and fitted to the ship in 1797. In fact, all serious scholars and historians of the USS Constitution understand that there is essentially nothing currently on that wooden vessel that was from the original construction. Over the years because of the nature of wood and decomposition from exposure to the elements, the USS Constitution has been restored and refitted and restored and refitted time and time again. McBean states that the commander told him that this cathead was from the USS Constitution and had been removed for restoration. Whether the cathead was 20 years old or 85 years old, we do not know nor did Mr. McBean make any assessment in his affidavit. The only thing stated in the affidavit is that the cathead came off the USS Constitution and that he received it from a commanding officer to be restored. In researching two different websites on the internet for information relating to the catheads we also discovered images of the catheads that were present on the USS Constitution in 2001. These images are remarkably similar to the style and format of this particular cathead here offered. Please note: the only information and documentation that we have is an affidavit from Mr. McBean dated March 30, 2006 and a receipt from a commanding officer of the USS Constitution dated March 30, 1987 and indicating that 15 chairs restored by McBean were returned on June 12, 1987 which corresponds with the approximate timing that McBean claims he received the cathead. SIZE: Approx. 18” h x 15-1/4” w x 5-1/2” thick. CONDITION: Other then what is pointed out earlier, the piece is currently in outstanding condition having been refurbished by Mr. McBean and apparently never having been exposed to the elements since then. 8-87684 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2012

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2134	$0.00	CARVED & GILT WOOD CATHEAD PURPORTEDLY FROM THE HISTORIC SHIP USS CONSTITUTION. The catheads are the projecting pieces of timber near the bow which serve as crane booms for hoisting anchors to the rail. The “cat” is the complication of tackle that is used to raise the anchor from the waterline to the cat heads. The cat tackle has a multiple block to aid in lifting the anchor up to the cathead. In other words, once you have raised the anchor and stow the main cable column you need to tie up the anchor where it wouldn’t swing free and damage the ship. This was the cathead. Once raised the anchors would then be secured to the cathead until they were ordered to cast off again. The anchor ring is catted by a large hook attached to the projecting cathead. Generally a cathead is an outside spool or winch used in handling hauling lines and in topping the lowered boat. Catheads derived the name from the carvings or cast iron caps in the forms of cats or lions, the cat in the 18th Century being the royal pet. These decorative heads were on the end of the cat head were often plated in gold, and one of the few ornaments found on a war ship. This large carved oak cat’s face with gilt surface was purportedly at one time used as a cap for the cathead on the ship USS Constitution. In an affidavit provided by Kenneth McBean in March, 2006. Mr. Bean states that in the 1980s he had a business called “Artisan Furniture Finishing Services Company” located in Boston, Massachusetts. “I had many important clients in the Boston area and in particular I did work for the Navy and specifically for the USS Constitution. I was hired at several different times to refinish and refurbish particular items for the USS Constitution. I regularly dealt with a high ranking officer who employed my services on several occasions. In June of 1987 or thereabouts I visited this officer in his office. He had on the floor two catheads from the USS Constitution, one had been restored and one was unrestored. He told me that he was not pleased with the restoration on one and that he would like me to do the restoration on the other. The cathead showed extensive weathering with cracks, chips and loss of paint and gold. After agreeing to do the work he gave me the cathead.” Mr. McBean goes on to say that he wanted to do the job right and took a lengthy period of time and by the time he returned the cathead, the officer who he had worked with was no longer there and despite various attempts to return the cathead and be paid for his work, he was unsuccessful. Included with McBean’s affidavit is a copy of a naval requisition form for refinish work done by McBean, for the referenced commanding officer of the USS Constitution. The receipt dated June 12, 1987 was a receipt for the return of previous refinishing work that McBean had just completed for 15 chairs. This return receipt was generated at the same time he received the cathead. This receipt does not reference the cathead, only the work that he was returning. The cathead cap described here is a large rectangular piece of carved oak, it is laminated of two heavy pieces of oak and features heavy carved detailed features of a cats head. It has been drilled for holes in each of the four corners and the reverse of the oak plaque has a mounting hole in the center. The front surface of the cathead retains essentially all of its replaced gold finish, which is in excellent condition; having never been exposed to the elements. The plaque has various age cracks or drying cracks; the largest of which is evident on the back of the plaque and clearly was restored with filler by McBean at the time he did his work. The top of the oak plaque and the lower portion of the oak plaque exhibit water stains which were likely a result of previous use before it was restored. The USS Constitution was built in 1797 and eventually adopted the name Old Ironsides due to the fact that cannonballs frequently bounced off her sides in combat during the War of 1812. The Constitution was one of America’s first warships and as such can be considered as one of the most historic US Naval Warships in existence today. Please note in regards to this cathead Mr. McBean does not state nor do we intend to purport that this carved oak cathead was the original cathead carved and fitted to the ship in 1797. In fact, all serious scholars and historians of the USS Constitution understand that there is essentially nothing currently on that wooden vessel that was from the original construction. Over the years because of the nature of wood and decomposition from exposure to the elements, the USS Constitution has been restored and refitted and restored and refitted time and time again. McBean states that the commander told him that this cathead was from the USS Constitution and had been removed for restoration. Whether the cathead was 20 years old or 85 years old, we do not know nor did Mr. McBean make any assessment in his affidavit. The only thing stated in the affidavit is that the cathead came off the USS Constitution and that he received it from a commanding officer to be restored. In researching two different websites on the internet for information relating to the catheads we also discovered images of the catheads that were present on the USS Constitution in 2001. These images are remarkably similar to the style and format of this particular cathead here offered. Please note: the only information and documentation that we have is an affidavit from Mr. McBean dated March 30, 2006 and a receipt from a commanding officer of the USS Constitution dated March 30, 1987 and indicating that 15 chairs restored by McBean were returned on June 12, 1987 which corresponds with the approximate timing that McBean claims he received the cathead. SIZE: Approx. 18” h x 15-1/4” w x 5-1/2” thick. CONDITION: Other then what is pointed out earlier, the piece is currently in outstanding condition having been refurbished by Mr. McBean and apparently never having been exposed to the elements since then. 8-87684 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2012 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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