This lovely Folk Art sailors seam rubber, carved from one piece of wood is decorated with hearts, diamonds a star and an anchor. The top is a carved  with a turks knot.
It measures 13.5cm l x  3cm w.
Prior to the mid 1800’s the commercial sailing boats powered by wind had a vast and elaborate system of canvas sails made from hemp and flax fibre. Hemp was able to withstand salt water and the forces of the oceans. Flax canvas was made from double weave to withstand rough usage. The seams in the sails had lines of waxed stitches which had to be pressed and rubbed into the canvas using sailmaker’s liners or seam rubbers, usually having V shaped sides or ends. Tese seam rubbers were also used for smoothing the seams.