Sou Wester Collection

Lifeboat Coxswain Jonas Oxley, Walton, Essex
Portrait of Jonas Oxley, lifeboat coxswain of Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, from 1947 to 1964. Seen here standing outside the boat house. circa 1963

Lifeboat man - England
The wise, weather-beaten face (in profile) of an English Lifeboat man from Bognor Regis

Fisherman, Woman and child by the quay, 1878 (oil on canvas)
476807 Fisherman, Woman and child by the quay, 1878 (oil on canvas) by Sinding, Otto Ludvig (1842-1909); 59 x 79 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Fiskere)

Hard Alee, 1882 (oil on canvas)
OVR390574 Hard Alee, 1882 (oil on canvas) by Krohg, Christian (1852-1925); 92x113 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Hard alee is a signal shouted to alert other crew members that you are pushing)

Fish Catch, 1877 (oil on canvas)
476799 Fish Catch, 1877 (oil on canvas) by Sinding, Otto Ludvig (1842-1909); 70 x 106 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Fiskefangst. ); Photo © O. Vaering

The Cup that Cheers (colour litho)
981861 The Cup that Cheers (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Cup that Cheers.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection; English, out of copyright

Sailor, Dieppe (b / w photo)
3096184 Sailor, Dieppe (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sailor, Dieppe. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

The Fishermans Return
GG40057 The Fishermans Return by Haquette, George (1854-1906); Private Collection; Photo eGavin Graham Gallery, London, UK; French, out of copyright

Toilers of the sea trawling on the Dogger Bank (engraving)
729466 Toilers of the sea trawling on the Dogger Bank (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Toilers of the sea trawling on the Dogger Bank)

The Song of the Sou Wester (colour litho)
2786988 The Song of the Sou Wester (colour litho) by McCormick, Arthur David (1860-1943); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Song of the Sou Wester)

Steering for Home (engraving)
1602692 Steering for Home (engraving) by Petherick, Horace (1839-1919); Private Collection; (add.info.: Steering for Home. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, Christmas Number 1876)

Eight Bells, 1887 (etching on parchment)
3928791 Eight Bells, 1887 (etching on parchment) by Homer, Winslow (1836-1910); 48.3 x 61.6 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Look-Out (aka The Lookout Man), 1908 (w / c on paper)
RCP330987 The Look-Out (aka The Lookout Man), 1908 (w/c on paper) by Tuke, Henry Scott (1858-1929); 50.8x35.8 cm; Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, Falmouth

Skagen Fisherman
BON40326 Skagen Fisherman by Ancher, Michael Peter (1849-1927); Private Collection; Photo eBonhams, London, UK; Danish, out of copyright

German U-boat, World War I, 1917. (colour litho)
5231507 German U-boat, World War I, 1917. (colour litho) by Stoewer (Stower) Willy (1864-1931) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: German U-boat, World War I)

Man carrying a child and holding onto the rail of a ship in a storm (colour litho)
5207669 Man carrying a child and holding onto the rail of a ship in a storm (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Squadron of Frigates and Fishing Vessels in a Choppy Sea off Holy Island
CH35326 Squadron of Frigates and Fishing Vessels in a Choppy Sea off Holy Island by Carmichael, John Wilson (1800-68); Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; English, out of copyright

Advertisement for Lifebuoy soap (colour litho)
6029828 Advertisement for Lifebuoy soap (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for Lifebuoy soap.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection

Ventilation under Difficulties, a Doctors Crusade during the Naval Manoeuvres (litho)
1056819 Ventilation under Difficulties, a Doctors Crusade during the Naval Manoeuvres (litho) by Nash, Joseph (d.1922); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ventilation under Difficulties)

The Twelth of June (chromolitho)
3621650 The Twelth of June (chromolitho) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Twelth of June)

A Lowestoft Smacksman (late 19th century)
473309 A Lowestoft Smacksman (late 19th century) by Payne Jennings, John (1843-1926) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Smacksmen, so named after the fishing boats known as smacks)

Our Fishing Industries: Pilchard Seining in Cornwall (engraving)
729302 Our Fishing Industries: Pilchard Seining in Cornwall (engraving) by Craft, Percy Robert (1856-1934); Private Collection; (add.info.: Our Fishing Industries: Pilchard Seining in Cornwall)

Mending the Nets, Hastings, 1909 (w / c on paper)
BOU202943 Mending the Nets, Hastings, 1909 (w/c on paper) by Gardner, William Biscombe (1847-1919); 36x25.5 cm; Private Collection; Bourne Gallery, Reigate, Surrey; English, out of copyright

The Fisherman, 1888
BON64100 The Fisherman, 1888 by Hemy, Charles Napier (1841-1917); Private Collection; Photo eBonhams, London, UK; English, out of copyright

Portrait of King Edward VII at the helm of HMS Britannia (litho)
5999777 Portrait of King Edward VII at the helm of HMS Britannia (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Portrait of King Edward VII at the helm of HMS Britannia)

Sketches of the Cruise of HMS Inconstant, with the Flying Squadron (engraving)
1622130 Sketches of the Cruise of HMS Inconstant, with the Flying Squadron (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sketches of the Cruise of HMS Inconstant)

The Arctic Expedition, Apparatus, etc, to be used by the Explorers (engraving)
1053565 The Arctic Expedition, Apparatus, etc, to be used by the Explorers (engraving) by Atkins, William Edward (1842-1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Arctic Expedition, Apparatus, etc)

Fisherman in oilskins 1911

The Smoker, 1640 (oil on oak board)
XKH204890 The Smoker, 1640 (oil on oak board) by Ostade, Adriaen Jansz. van (1610-85); 17.9x14.8 cm; Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany; Dutch, out of copyright

The Pilot Keeps Watch, 1851 (oil on canvas)
XKH204837 The Pilot Keeps Watch, 1851 (oil on canvas) by Schlesinger, Karl (1825-93); 31x25.5 cm; Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany; German, out of copyright

Two lifeboat coxswains, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
Retiring lifeboat coxswain John Byford (left) and new coxswain Thomas Bloom, pictured at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. John Byford had been cox from 1929 and Thomas Bloom, known locally as Puggy

True to the Core lifeboat crew, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
The crew of the True to the Core lifeboat at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, seen here wearing their cork lifebelts and souwesters. circa 1895

Wartime Lifeboat Crew after a dramatic rescue, Walton
Eight members of the lifeboat crew at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, pictured on the day they rescued three men from the barge Martha

Stormy Weather by Muriel Dawson
Two children dressed for rainy weather in raincoats, wellies and sou westers shelter together under a huge orange umbrella

Fishermen pushing off from the shore. The caption reads: " Good Fortune Guide Thee". A scene from the coast of Scotand on the West coast, close to Fort William

Seaman at the Ships Wheel, Atlantic, 1870
Illustration showing a sailor, dressed in souwester and waterproof, steering his ship through bad weather on the Atlantic crossing, c.1870

th Huxley / Sambourne 1881
THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY A satire on the English scientists role as Inspector of Fisheries

Boy in Rainwear 1930
A small boy is well protected against inclement weather in a long double-breasted waterproof coat, a hat with upturned brim & a pair of Wellington boots

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"Capturing the Essence of the Sou Wester: A Journey through Art and History" Step into the world of the Sou Wester, a captivating symbol that has left its mark on various aspects of life. From Lifeboat Coxswain Jonas Oxley in Walton, Essex to brave English lifeboat men, this iconic headgear has become synonymous with maritime courage and resilience. Its allure extends beyond practicality as seen in a charming French travel poster depicting fishermen donning their sou westers against a picturesque coastal backdrop. The image evokes a sense of adventure and invites us to explore new horizons. Artists have also been captivated by this timeless accessory. In "Fisherman, Woman and Child by the Quay, " an oil painting from 1878, we witness everyday life intertwining with tradition as these figures proudly wear their sou westers while going about their daily routines. The power of art continues to shine through in works like "Hard Alee" (1882) and "Fish Catch" (1877), both vividly portraying seafarers battling nature's elements while relying on their trusty sou westers for protection. Even lithographs pay homage to this cherished item; "The Cup that Cheers" showcases sailors raising their mugs adorned with images of sou westers - a celebration of camaraderie amidst challenging voyages. Photography also captures its essence; an enchanting black-and-white photo titled "Sailor, Dieppe" immortalizes a sailor wearing his weathered sou wester, hinting at tales untold beneath his rugged exterior. However, not all scenes are idyllic. In "Disaster Scene in a Cornish Fishing Village" (1889), watercolors and pencil depict chaos unfolding as villagers face treacherous waters without adequate protection – reminding us of the importance placed upon such gear for safety at sea. Yet hope prevails even during adversity.