This nautical treasure has the distinctive form of braces used by 18th century shipwrights when working of smaller craft—like whale boats. The brace has an almost fish hook shape that has abundant tool marks that could have been made by using shark skin as a sanding medium. The brace is overall 16 inches high, including a top, lathe turned knob that rotates on a dowel set into the upper shaft of the brace. It has a sweep of only about 6 inches. No pads are with it, but they can be made. The wood is fairly light and is somewhat infested with worm holes (powder post beetle larvae) that are long inactive. This old brace has a great look to it. Good.
