✨ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐰 | "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞" – 𝐏𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 & 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 ✨
"A gold chain or a wooden leg, we'll stand with you!" 🏴☠️⚔️ This commanding bust captures Thomas Tew (c. 1649–1695) – the infamous English privateer-turned-pirate known as "The Rhode Island Pirate." A charismatic captain who pioneered the lucrative "Pirate Round" route, Tew's daring exploits in the Indian Ocean inspired a generation of buccaneers and earned him a fearsome reputation. From his legendary capture of a Mughal treasure ship to his bloody death in battle alongside Henry Avery, Tew's story is one of the most thrilling chapters in the Golden Age of Piracy . Perfect for home offices, studies, pirate collectors, and lovers of maritime history.
✅ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝 :
1x Thomas Tew – The Rhode Island Pirate Bust ✅
Ready to display – no assembly required ✅
✅ 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 📏:
Choose the perfect scale for your space:
Size Height
Extra Small 12 cm / 4.7 inches
Small 17 cm / 6.7 inches
Medium 20 cm / 7.9 inches
Large 22 cm / 8.6 inches
Extra Large 25 cm / 9.8 inches
XL 30 cm / 11.8 inches
𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 – 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬! 😊
✅ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 🌊:
Thomas Tew was a 17th-century English privateer who turned to piracy and pioneered the route that became known as the "Pirate Round" – a lucrative sailing route from the Atlantic, around the Cape of Good Hope, and into the Indian Ocean, where pirates could plunder richly laden Mughal and Arab ships . Tew's successful voyage in 1692-1693 proved that the Indian Ocean was a treasure trove for pirates, inspiring others like Henry Avery and William Kidd to follow in his wake .
✅ "𝐀 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐠" 🥂:
Tew's most famous moment came when he announced his intention to turn pirate:
Set sail from Bermuda (December 1692) – Commissioned as a privateer against French holdings in West Africa
Announced his plan to the crew – Asked for their support, which he could not enforce without their consent
The crew's legendary response – "A gold chain or a wooden leg, we'll stand with you!" – a pledge of loyalty
Elected a quartermaster – A common pirate practice to balance the captain's power
Changed the course of piracy – His success opened the Indian Ocean to pirate raiders
✅ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐠𝐞 (𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟐–𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟒) 🏆:
Tew's first pirate cruise was spectacularly successful:
The Amity – A 70-ton sloop, 8 guns, 46 men
Reached the Red Sea (late 1693) – His first target
Captured a Mughal treasure dhow – Carrying goods worth £100,000 in gold and silver, plus ivory, spices, gemstones, and silk
No casualties – The dhow surrendered without serious resistance
Extraordinary shares – Each of the 45 men received between £1,200 and £3,000 (a fortune at the time); Tew claimed about £8,000
The quartermaster opposed further attacks – Tew yielded and set course for home
Stopped at Adam Baldridge's pirate settlement – On Madagascar to careen his ship
✅ "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞" 🇺🇸:
Tew's life and connections in the American colonies:
Lived in Newport, Rhode Island – Had a wife and two daughters
Befriended Governor Benjamin Fletcher – Royal governor of New York, became close friends with Tew and his family
Returned to Newport (April 1694) – Welcomed as a wealthy hero
Socially prominent – His wife and daughters enjoyed the New York City social scene after Tew became rich
✅ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐠𝐞 (𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟒–𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟓) ⚓:
Tew's final expedition:
New letter of marque from Governor Fletcher – November 1694
Set out with a crew of 30–40 men – From New York
Joined forces with Henry Avery – At the Mandab Strait (August 1695)
Other captains – Joseph Faro, Thomas Wake, William May, and Richard Want
25-ship Mughal convoy approached – Slipped past the pirates during the night
The Amity attacked one of the Mughal ships – Believed to be the Fateh Muhammed
✅ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 (𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟓) 💀:
Tew met a violent end in battle:
Reportedly disemboweled by a cannon shot – A gruesome death
His crew demoralized – Surrendered immediately
Rescued later – Avery's ship, the Fancy, captured the Fateh Muhammed and freed them
Burial site unknown – His body lost to the sea
The Amity – Returned to Madagascar under John Ireland's command to refit
✅ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐫 🏴☠️:
Tew's pirate flag is legendary:
Described as a black flag – With a white arm holding a short scimitar
Adopted by Vivienne Westwood – The "World's End" brand uses a version of his flag as its logo
20th-century attribution – No period sources confirm this flag, but it remains iconic
Symbol of rebellion – Tew's flag became a fashion icon
✅ 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 ✨:
Tew's influence on piracy was immense:
Pioneered the Pirate Round – His success inspired a generation
Inspired Henry Avery and William Kidd – Famous pirates followed his route
Reputed father of Ratsimilaho – Said to have fathered a king in Madagascar
Reputed founder of Libertatia – A mythical pirate colony
Commissioned by King William III – Kidd was sent to hunt Tew (already dead)
✅ 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 🏠:
This sculpture brings pirate history to:
Home offices and personal studies – A daily reminder of the pirate's life
Pirate and maritime history collectors – Among your buccaneer memorabilia
Rhode Island and New England heritage – Celebrating the "Rhode Island Pirate"
Home libraries and bookshelves – Alongside pirate histories
Office desks and executive spaces – The spirit of "a gold chain or a wooden leg"
Birthday gifts – For the pirate lover in your life
✅ 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝟑𝐃 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 🛠️:
Meticulously crafted using precision 3D printing technology and finished by hand. Every detail – from the pirate's bearing to the resolute expression – is rendered with care, capturing the legendary Rhode Island Pirate.
✅ 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐋𝐀 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 🌿:
Crafted from high-quality PLA – a plant-based plastic derived from corn starch. It is not only recyclable but also biodegradable, offering an environmentally conscious choice for history lovers and collectors.
✅ 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 🎨:
Standard finishes available – classic marble-effect, bronze, stone, terracotta, or pirate colours (black, red, gold). We also welcome custom colour requests. Contact us to discuss bringing this legendary pirate to life in your preferred palette!
⚠️ 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 : Please note that the colour may appear slightly different on your screen or in person due to variations in monitor settings and lighting conditions.
📏 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
• 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥: High-Quality 3D-Printed PLA+
• 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: Thomas Tew (c. 1649–1695) – "The Rhode Island Pirate"
• 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬: Privateer, Pirate, Pioneer of the Pirate Round
• 𝐄𝐫𝐚: Golden Age of Piracy / 17th Century
• 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Pirate Round, Capture of Mughal Treasure Ship, Death in Battle
• 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬: Pirate bearing, resolute expression, flamboyant features
• 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡: Various colours available (select at checkout or message for custom)
• 𝐔𝐬𝐞: Decorative sculpture / Pirate collectible / Office desk decor
🎁 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫:
• Pirate history and Golden Age enthusiasts
• Maritime and Rhode Island heritage collectors
• New England history and Buccaneer fans
• Home libraries, studies, and office desks
• Unique, thoughtful gifts for history lovers
• Birthday gifts for pirate fans
• Anyone who believes in "a gold chain or a wooden leg"
⚠️ 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
• This item is 3D printed, so minor layer lines or subtle imperfections may be visible – this is part of the charm of a handmade, non-molded piece.
• Intended for indoor display. Handle with care to preserve delicate details.
• Custom Orders: If you would like this bust in other sizes or colours, please do not hesitate to contact us. We're happy to accommodate your vision!
✨ 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝟑𝐃
This pirate tribute is brought to life in our UK workshop, where we fuse a passion for maritime history, buccaneering legend, and sculptural tradition with precision 3D printing. Every piece celebrates the outlaws who ruled the waves – and the Rhode Island Pirate who pioneered them all. 🇬🇧
🛠️ 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞-𝐭𝐨-𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞
Each Thomas Tew bust is printed fresh for your order, ensuring top quality and reducing waste. Your unique historical piece is prepared with dedicated attention within 1–2 business days.
📦 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
𝐔𝐊 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬: Please allow 2-3 days for delivery after processing.
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬: Please allow 1–2 weeks for creation and delivery.
We carefully package each bust to ensure it arrives safely – and ready to fly the black flag.
💬 Have any questions or custom requests? Feel free to message us anytime – we'd love to help create the perfect piece for your collection