Rolling pins of blown glass were a token of fidelity and a kind of talisman which was to remind a girl of her fiance or husband sailing on the high seas. They were decorated with portraits of ships and touchingly sentimental little doggered rhymes.

Description of rolling pins featured in group photo from top to bottom:

Top: Large and exceptional sailor’s commemorative rolling pin, 28 inches long, circa 1860.

Second: Sailor’s lithograph rolling pin, SOLD.

Third: Ship, Brig ANN PATTERSON, SOLD.

Fourth: Rare etched glass rolling pin, dated 1859, SOLD.

Bottom: Gift to Maria Lear from a sailor aboard top sail schooner THETIS, SOLD.