While Mahdee was in the yard, during the rebuild, I found this circa 1931 Royal Crown Derby plate hand painted by W E J Dean* on Ebay and of course purchased it!  I’ve had it stored away in bubble wrap since then and finally decided this was a place where it could hang relatively safely aboard the boat.  Between the main saloon port seat and the “storage bed” (the bed was once a “dining saloon” seat and cabinet aboard Mahdee but was converted into a bed by a previous owner and the bed converted to storage space by us…) and hanging above the computer cabinet, it’s relatively safe and out of the way.  It hangs on a ventilated cabinet door that represents the only hanging locker we have aboard the boat.  Behind this door is approximately 13″ of space with a rod to hang the few dresses and formal attire we have aboard the boat.  Though the door is only about 36″ tall, the locker extends down behind the cabinet.  Vents from the back of the computer cabinet and the computer’s cooling fan move air through the hanging locker and keep it dry.  Though Mahdee doesn’t have problems with dampness, it is nice to have the extra ventilation even so.

* About the artist: Dean was born in Derby and became an Apprentice Painter at Royal Crown Derby in the late 1890’s and worked there until shortly before his death in 1956. Although disabled from an early age he was always active and jolly – becoming a cult figure. He became famous for his Nautical Scenes and would take study trips on the Sea on trawlers from Grimsby, taking photographs and sketches to use for his work. His seascapes were painted in a natural style and the sails and rigging were painted in a manner that was admired by nautical experts. During the recession of the 1930’s W.E.J. Dean (Billy Dean) worked alongside Albert Gregory and Cuthbert Gresley. Together they were responsible for the hand-painted pieces and each piece was usually signed by the Artist.