A folk art ship in a bottle diorama dated 1922

A rare and highly unusual early 20th-century folk art ship-in-a-bottle diorama, depicting a remarkably elaborate coastal village and harbour scene.

The composition features multiple houses, a church, lighthouse and windmill set amongst trees on a grassy hillside descending towards the harbour. Below is a sea wall and jetty, with two small boats moored in the blue water. In the foreground is an especially unusual large burnt out shipwreck, giving the work its evocative title. A further small rowing boat is positioned within the neck of the bottle.

The bottle is finished with its original green woven cap, which is fixed in place. The bottle has a small paper label on its base which reads After the Great Fire. T Minton 22. The diorama retains its original handmade black wooden stand.

The bottle is in excellent original condition, with no damage or losses.

English, circa 1922

Height: 12.5 cm including stand Width: 30 cm Depth: 7.5 cm.

The unusual subject matter, highly detailed construction and surviving original label and stand make this a particularly distinctive example of early 20th century English maritime folk art.