Canada's Naval History

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The Navy: A Century in Art

Naval Traditions and Culture

Naval Traditions and Culture

Naval traditions and culture encompass a wide range of activities, events, and objects, often unique to naval service. Some, like the "crossing the line" (meaning, the equator) ceremony, are old and well-established, while others, such as gun shield art, related directly to Second World War experiences. Many reflect companionship, commemoration, recreation, or esprit de corps.

Artifact Record

Jewellery Box

This jewellery box, with the image of a destroyer on its lid, commemorates the building of HMCS Skeena and HMCS Saguenay for the Royal Canadian Navy.

Thornycroft, the builders of both ships, gave this commemorative box to Captain Thomas Phillips, a naval engineer who worked on their designs. Items ranging from large, detailed models made by the shipbuilding firms themselves to commemorative booklets, and including decorative pieces like this jewellery box, have often been produced to mark the launching of a new ship.

Jewellery Box
CWM 19760129-001