Figurehead Supports from the Vasa
2018 © Maxim Tabachnik
Gunport HatchRoyal Coat of Arms on the VasaStern Sculptures of the VasaStern Ornament with CherubsGrotesque Carvings Beneath the SternFigurehead Supports from the VasaModel of the VasaThe Vasa WarshipStern of the Vasa WarshipVasa’s Stern Carvings

Figurehead Supports from the Vasa

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These vertical supports (1620s) from the warship Vasa feature stacked male and female heads alternating with grotesque masks. The layered carving shows a blend of classical, mythical, and moral imagery, demonstrating Sweden’s assertion of maritime power and divine authority during its rise as a European empire.