ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the practice of reusing wooden ship material for symbolic purposes in the nineteenth century, specifically in the burial containers of two naval heroes: the British Lord Nelson and the Swedish Johan Puke. It delves into the reasons behind the decision to use shipwood for these containers and explores the relationship between the admirals, the ships, the wood, and the finished shipwood artefacts, and discusses their various meanings. It is argued that whilst the coffin of Lord Nelson has primarily been understood as a trophy, the casket of Admiral Puke partly deviates from the British example and calls for a wider understanding.
