Barnacle taken from hull of an Indiaman

A single barnacle taken from the hull of an Indiaman with smaller ones growing on it, composed of organic nacre. The accretion of barnacles and weed growth, which coppering reduced but did not prevent, could severely affect the perfomance of sailing ships. The date of this one is not known but it is presumably from the 19th century and was perhaps kept as an unusually striking example.

Object Details

ID: AAB0222
Collection: Special collections; Natural History
Type: Barnacle
Display location: Display - Traders Gallery
Date made: Probably 19th century
Exhibition: Traders: The East India Company and Asia
People: Green
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Green Blackwall Collection
Measurements: Overall: 110 x 110 x 80 mm