Antique Highlight: Ship's Wheel

This week at French Metro we are taking a look at a very cool piece! This ship’s wheel from the early twentieth century is constructed of solid oak and beechwood.

It has a brass ring marked with the name of the maker Anciens Etablissements de la Brosse & Fouche in Nantes. It's also marked Ateliers & Chantiers de Bretagne or “Workshops and Construction sites of Brittany.

It's dated 1914, the year when the ship this wheel belonged to was launched from the shipyards. La Brosse & Fouche was a shipyard in Nantes established in 1895 and Changed its name to Ateliers & Chantiers in 1909.

Using true naval construction techniques, the spokes are built so that they traverse the wheel adding stability when trying to maneuver the boat in rough seas.

The wheel rests on its original brass helm pedestal and can be disassembled by unscrewing the brass cap. An amazing piece that could be converted into a unique coffee table or could be mounted on the wall.

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