Lignum Vitae Deadeyes

A deadeye is an item used in the standing and running rigging of traditional sailing ships. It is usually made of lignum vitae and is a small disc with one or more holes through it, perpendicular to the plane of the disc.  Single and triple hole deadeyes are most commonly seen.  The three-holed blocks were called deadeyes because the position of the three holes resemble the eye and nose sockets of a sheep's skull.  Triple Deadeyes are used in pairs and a line called lanyard is run back and forth between them, through the holes so that they function much as a block and tackle would.  This provided a mechanical advantage, pulling harder on whatever the deadeyes were attached to.  Pairs of deadeyes were placed in the shrouds (the lines that hold up the mast) where they were used to create tension in the shrouds. Deadeyes with single holes were called Bullseyes for obvious reasons.

Lignum Vitae is Latin for Wood of Life and is the densest wood . . . 20 times stronger than Oak and it easily sinks in water.  It is also called Ironwood because of it's strength and durability. Merlin's Wand in the story of King Arthur was made of Lignum Vitae and has magical powers and American Folksinger Pete Seeger fashioned the neck of his trademark banjo from Lignum Vitae. Some think he also has magical powers :-)

Here we have a group of four Lignum Vitae Deadeyes that were once used for the purpose for which they were made.  They are reminders of the days of the old sailing ships and you can almost here the wind in the timbers. As presented here they would make nice paperweights or a gift for someone with a nautical interest. 

LEFT - 3-1/4" dia - 2 hole . . . 
MIDDLE - 4-1/2 " dia. - 3 hole . . . 
RIGHT - 4" dia. - 3 hole . . . 
BOTTOM CENTER - 3-34" dia. - 2 hole . . .

Questions? Ask the Ferret!