Skeletons and Skulls

The life of a pirate was often brief and violent, which is why images of death were often associated with them. Any pirate bar should have a skull or skeleton. It really adds a creepy dungeon atmosphere. If you’ve ever been to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland or Disney World, you know how much skeletons fit into the scenery–even while waiting in line for the ride. From my experience, the best selections are to be found around Halloween, where for about $10 or less you can get a full-sized decent quality skull. It’s also easy to find full-body skeletons from any of the major retailers that sell Halloween decorations. Walmart has always had the least expensive ones, with Michael’s having the pricier, but higher quality, specimen. You can also generally find a random assortment of bones to buy from the Halloween aisle, intended to be strewn about the yard, but these can work well to accentuate parts of the bar scenery.

 

Bottles and Jugs

You certainly need bottles to hold your liquor, but displaying some empty decorative bottles or whiskey jugs can be a great decorative addition to the bar. In my own, I have a ceramic whiskey jug that I found at a thrift store–proof that you don’t need to break the bank to get some nice decorative items. You may be able to luck out for bottles as well by looking at thrift stores and antique stores. Some examples of bottles used during the 17th and 18th centuries are included below. You can find some that are close in appearance by looking at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. If you really want some authentic-looking onion bottles, there are some stores online that sell them handmade, but you will be looking at a $20-$50 price range.

 

Trunks and Chests

The pirate’s buried treasure:  an idea  much maligned by historians but an image that almost always comes to mind by anyone when the word “pirate” comes up. The pirate’s treasure chest fits into contemporary lore and imagery in any form. The reality is that most pirates spent their illicit earnings instead of saving or hiding them. However, the iconic chest or trunk was still widely used for cargo transport, shipping, and storage. Even if you’re an historical stickler, having an authentic-looking chest or trunk still fits into the bar scene. Plus, you can use it to store things like extra glasses or bar accessories. You can find chests that fit the scene online or in stores. You can usually find something smaller for about $25-$30 or you can go all out for a large well-made one that easily go for $50 to over $100. I have found craft stores, like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby to have some good assortments of square trunks that could fit into a variety of genre’s and look great. Some examples are below.

I am very fortunate that my father-in-law Chip does some wood-working in his spare time and started experimenting with boxes and chests. The chests I have pictured above and in my bar scenes are all hand-crafted by him. They truly look amazing, like they could just be inserted into a busy 18th century port. Chip has made a few of these with some different finishing styles, including a smaller more whimsical one for my daughter.

Pictures and Wall Hangings

There are many pirate-themed wall-hangings you can find. I have found most of mine at beach-front stores while on vacation. If you do an internet search for pirate signs you’ll find a host of interesting, although cliche, skull and crossbones artwork to display with clever phrases and one-liners. If you’re looking for a more classic feel though, try a framed picture of a tall-masted ship. I found a couple of great ones, displayed below, at art gallery stores for less than $30. These images really transport you to life on the sea–where any pirate is truly at home. Howard Pyle is an artist–some of his work is displayed below–who crafted many paintings of historical pirates and their lifestyle. He used these as illustrations for a book he wrote on historical piracy, as well as for the classic novel Treasure Island. Some of his paintings really capture the image  of adventure–and danger–in the life of a pirate. Lastly, another wall-hanging to consider is a classic map of the Caribbean. Zazzle.com has some good selections of 18th Century Caribbean maps in a variety of sizes for different prices.

 

Other Decorations

Because I have traveled to the Caribbean myself, I also like to include some of my paintings, statues, and other items from Haiti. The bold colors contribute to that exotic feel. The pieces themselves make for good conversation and sharing stories of my travels.

 

There are naturally other accoutrements that can be added in the background. Include actual personal effects like swords, pistols, hats, bandoliers, and jewelry. I have a tricorner hat that sits on top of a stack of wooden crates. I also have a couple of wall hooks on which hang a bandolier with a model cutlass and a pistol. On a couple of shelves behind the bar I have some replica items from Pirates of the Caribbean on display, including the key to Davey Jones’ locker, a cursed Aztec gold coin necklace, and Jack Sparrow’s ring.