A mid 18th century Naval elm and oak fiddle pulley block, with two wood sheaves.

Marked with Roman Numerals: XXVIII

Height: 74 cm.

Width: 34 cm.

Depth: 14 cm.

For a similar fiddle block see the collection of: Chatham Historic Dockyard. Catalogue Number: INV.146  https://collection.thedockyard.co.uk/objects/9037/fiddle-block

In sailing, a block is a single or multiple pulley. One or a number of sheaves are enclosed in an assembly between cheeks or chocks. In use, a block is fixed to the end of a line, to a spar, or to a surface. A line (rope) is reeved through the sheaves, and maybe through one or more matching blocks at some far end, to make up a tackle. A large sail-powered warship in the 18th and 19th century required more than 1,400 blocks of various kinds.