Nautical art collector shows work at Balboa Museum

The Balboa Museum and Historical Society is showing portions of the nautical art collection owned by Balboa Island resident Bill Stewart.

Stewart, 86, loaned a portion of his collection to the museum to showcase “Arts of the Ancient Mariner,” which includes ships in bottles, scrimshaw etchings, sperm whale teeth and children’s toys made from rope.

He said one of his most treasured pieces is a telescope he found on the USS Potomac, which served as the presidential yacht of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Stewart learned the Potomac was for sale in the 1960s and purchased the recreational ship. He has it on display in Oakland.

Stewart, who has been principal broker of Bill Stewart Realty for the past 20 years on Balboa Island, has served eight years as treasurer and director of the Balboa Island Improvement Assn., and is involved in the development of the Balboa Island Museum.

The pieces may be seen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 331 Marine Ave. For more information, call (949) 675-3952 or visit balboaislandmuseum.org

—Kathleen Luppi