Nannie the Witch

One of the most recognisable figureheads in the National
Maritime Museum's world-leading collection is Nannie the witch, who leans with
outstretched arm from the bow of Cutty Sark towards the River Thames.
Nannie, who has provided protection to the ship in at least three different
forms over the course of its history, is at the centre of this book.



Cutty Sark experts Louise Macfarlane and Claire
Denham explore the history of the figurehead, including its original design by
Hercules Linton and construction by carver Frederick Hellyer. Using drawings
and archival photographs, they show how the figure morphed into the version at
the ship's bow today.



With a contribution from master carver Andy Peters,
responsible for the Nannie that was installed in 2021, the book documents the
process of creating a figurehead and considers the art of figurehead carving as
an endangered skill.