The origins of decorative ship carving can be traced back to the ancient practice of adorning bows to invoke guiding spirits. In the 17th century, the art of decorative ship carving began to flourish in Europe, and by the 19th century, the art had made its way to North America - finding its ultimate home on the graceful clippers of the Golden Age of Sailing.

Figureheads, which are among the most romantic and mysterious of all ornamental ship artifacts, were indicative of the vessel owner's prosperity. Like their ancient counterparts, these beautiful decorative objects were
also considered good luck, and when they were damaged, it caused great consternation among the ship's crew.

Figureheads included subjects such as mythological creatures, deities, classical figures, famous individuals and patriotic heroes. Often, the name of the vessel dictated the design such as the stately eagle on the Grand Republic or the twin girls who might have graced a brig called The Twin Sisters. Sadly, as the use of wooden vessels began to wane, the art of decorative ship carving began to die out. Today, all that remains are the beautiful artifacts that are showcased in marine museums around the world.