Skip to main content
Advanced Search
OMAHA chest and seat
OMAHA chest and seat

OMAHA chest and seat

Maker (Australian, 1882 - 1953)
Datec 1910
Object number00008755
NameSea chest
MediumPine wood, pacific maple wood, steel
DimensionsOverall: 473 x 1095 mm, 31.1 kg
ClassificationsDecorative and folk art
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from George Charles Wise
DescriptionChest made by Australian seaman Charles Robert Wise with the American barque OMAHA painted on the inside of its lid.HistoryThis simple sea chest was made and painted by Charles Robert Wise (1882-1953) who served on the OMAHA as a young man. It was the last vessel he served on before taking jobs on shore, sometime between 1910 and 1920, as a stevedore and later a tally clerk. The 29 April 1901 entry in the Register of Seamen's Engagements for Sydney notes that Charles Wise was born in Grafton, New South Wales, was aged 19 and was currently serving as an Ordinary Seaman on board the British steel barque LODORE. His previous ships had been the MELBOURNE and the screw steamer PEREGRINE.