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Lot 638

Samuel Walters
(British, 1811-1882)
'Hovellers at Deal'

4 – 6 November 2008, 13:00 GMT
Chester

£600 - £800

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Samuel Walters (British, 1811-1882)

'Hovellers at Deal'
signed and dated 1868, bears inscriptions on backingboard, pastel,
45 x 69cm (17 11/16 x 27 3/16in).

Footnotes

'Hovellers' were crewed by hardy longshoremen who eked out a living under
highly competitive and often dangerous conditions. Familiar with local
waters and in boats specially built for their sea keeping ability they were
on hand at well known anchorages or roadsteads anticipating the needs of
passing sailing ships. Assisting with the conveyance of pilots, taking out
new warps or anchors, performing acts of salvage it might seem that they
mostly made their living out of the maritime misfortunes of others. Before
the days of a more highly organised lifeboat service they performed an
indispensable service.

This pastel drawing by Samuel Walters shows a pair of Deal hovellers seeking
out custom under near gale conditions, the distant Deal coastline barely
visible through the threatening murk. Hardly making headway with sails
reefed right down, they rise buoyantly to the oncoming waves. The
discomfort and hazards of the hoveller's lot are most eloquently portrayed.

We are grateful to Mr Sam Davidson for his assistance in cataloguing his lot.

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