Charles H Wood

BiographyThis English artist produced elaborate presentation pieces incised in the manner of whalers' scrimshaw. His background and training are unknown, but the skill shown in his work suggests he may have trained as an engraver or gunsmith. Many of his images indicate he had a strong connection with both America and Australia.

Wood is best known for his highly decorative engravings of the steam ships GREAT BRITAIN (1845) and GREAT WESTERN (1837), which were done on the pearl-like surface of large shells. These shells were duplicated many times over and advertised as exact replicas of a shell he presented to Queen Victoria. When the GREAT EASTERN arrived in New York in 1860, Wood was there selling his engraved shells.

Person TypeIndividual