Heritage Object of the Year Nomination

Cornwall Heritage Awards have celebrated Cornwall’s museums, art galleries, castles, mines, historic properties, industrial heritage sites, archives and community museums since 2018. Every year, the most coveted Object of the Year category is decided by public vote and this year the theme is ‘Cornwall’s Creativity’.

Six Cornish museums, including National Maritime Museum Cornwall, have nominated the objects to be Object of the Year 2025.

Our nominated object is the The Jane Slade painting by Reuben Chappell. A masterpiece capturing Cornwall’s maritime spirit, the Jane Slade painting celebrates a pioneering businesswoman and her family’s shipbuilding legacy. Immortalized by Reuben Chappell, this artwork inspired Daphne Du Maurier’s first novel, weaving together art, entrepreneurship, and the creative essence of Cornish maritime life.

The Jane Slade by Reuben Chappell

The Jane Slade painting is a vibrant testament to Cornwall’s creative heritage, embodying innovation, artistic expression, and entrepreneurial spirit. At first glance a simple ship portrait, but it also represents a compelling story of creativity that bridges visual art, maritime engineering, and literary inspiration.

Why we have selected this object

Created by Reuben Chappell, a renowned pierhead artist, the painting captures more than the ship—it portrays a moment of Cornish ingenuity. The Jane Slade schooner symbolizes the remarkable craftsmanship of Polruan’s shipbuilders, showcasing their technical skill and artistic vision in maritime design. At the painting’s heart is Jane Slade herself (the ship was named for her) — a revolutionary businesswoman who defied 19th-century gender constraints. After her husband’s death, she became Managing Director of the family shipyard, demonstrating extraordinary leadership and economic creativity that was years ahead of her time.

The wreck of the ship directly inspired Daphne Du Maurier’s debut novel, ‘The Loving Spirit,’ illustrating how one creative work can spark another. Intrigued by the ship, led her to research the lives of the family whose lives were shaped by her.

This interconnectedness shows Cornwall’s unique ability to generate and regenerate creative energy across different mediums.

Displayed in the Cornwall and the Sea gallery, the painting serves as a powerful narrative of local innovation. It reveals how creativity in Cornwall is not just about individual achievements but how one spark of creativity can be used as inspiration for countless others.