Low-relief carved inn sign of a sailor dancing the hornpipe, though the 1930s source (Sellick's, antique dealers in The Close, Exeter) stated that it represented 'a sailor, period 1790, giving the Royal Naval salute called Bowing and Scraping, which expression is still used'. Sir Geoffrey Callender, writing to H. Tapley-Soper, the City Librarian of Exeter who acted as agent in its purchase in January 1938, observed that 'the last remark' (i.e., the currency of the phrase) was 'news' to him. It shows a Royal Naval sailor facing right, in shore-going rig of short black/brown jacket, a yellow jumper, white duck trousers with a buttoned flap front, pumps with buckles, neckerchief loosely tied, and raising his low-crowned black tarpaulin hat with his left hand. The man shown, in right profile, has long hair combed back from a high forehead and sideburns. His right arm is by his side and he appears to be dancing on his right leg with the left one raised at a right angle to the hip and the foot tucked in to the right knee. The reverse of the carving is flat but painted in the same colours and the whole is in an oak frame with two chain suspensions at the top and a decorative wrought iron finial below. According to Sellick's it came from an inn near Portsmouth (possibly into Sussex according to Tapley-Soper's conversation with them). When this was demolished it was acquired by an unnamed naval officer 'who had it for years and presented it to Captain Grant D.S.O. who also possessd it for over 20 years to my knowledge and from whom at last I [Sellick] succeeded in acquiring it'. It was spotted in Sellick's by Lt-Col H. Castle-Smith, formerly of the Suffolk Regiment, who wrote to Callender about it on 16 January 1938. The price was £15, the bill being settled on 14 March.