The figurehead -- a decorative carving on the bow of a ship, often personifying the vessel in human or animal form -- is an ancient and fascinating tradition of the sea. The author, Mystic Seaport Museum's Registrar, here recounts the development of figureheads and then discusses the different styles and periods of carving, using as examples 40 of these ever-popular and intriguing figures in the museum's collection. Produced under a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, this handsome, fully illustrated book will appeal to folk art enthusiasts as well as students of maritime history.