Figurehead Supports from the Vasa
2018 © Maxim Tabachnik
Gunport HatchStern Sculptures of the VasaGun Deck of the VasaUpper Deck of VasaOrnate Panel from the Vasa WarshipRoman Soldier Figurehead on VasaReclining Figures on the Vasa WarshipCrowned Lions and Royal BustDavid with Harp and Moorish WarriorGrotesques and Soldiers on the VasaRoyal Coat of Arms on the VasaStern Ornament with CherubsGrotesque Carvings Beneath the SternFigurehead Supports from the VasaModel of the VasaThe Vasa Warship

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.