For the month of June, we are featuring a nautical knot art display by Virginia artist and Navy veteran John Trevvett in the Visitor Center (photo below).
John will also be hosting a nautical knot demonstration on Saturday, June 20th, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Please help spread the word to friends, family, industry partners, clients and anyone who may appreciate maritime history, art, or craftsmanship.
We’re also working on a flyer to help promote both the exhibit and the Visitor Center as a destination during Sail 250.
A few interesting facts that may help answer visitor questions and promote the exhibit:
- John Trevvett is a Williamsburg resident, Navy veteran, and lifelong knot tier who originally learned practical sailing knots used on boats around the Chesapeake Bay.
- In 2020, he discovered historic sennit frames – ornate picture frames made from rope and complex, decorative knots, and became passionate about preserving this rare maritime art form.
- Sennit frames are considered extremely rare. Very little historical documentation exists, and only a handful of artisans worldwide create them today.
- The frames incorporate traditional nautical knotting techniques such as Turk’s Heads, Star Knots, coachwhipping, plaits, and decorative weaves.
- Historically, sailors would create decorative knotwork pieces after retiring from the sea as a way to demonstrate their seamanship and craftsmanship.
- One of Trevvett’s collaborative knotwork frames hangs in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon. The frame required more than 5,000 feet of rope and weighs approximately 82 pounds.
- The exhibit is a wonderful example of how an essential maritime skill can be transformed into fine art, making it a fitting display during Norfolk’s Sail250 celebrations.
When speaking with visitors, a simple description is:
“These handcrafted frames are made almost entirely from traditional sailor’s knots and showcase a rare maritime art form that few people in the world still practice today.”
Please encourage visitors to take a closer look at the pieces, the intricate details and variety of knots become more apparent the longer you study them.
For anyone interested in learning more, John also maintains a YouTube channel where he shares tutorials and demonstrations of his craft:
