A quarter gallery is an architectural feature of the stern of a sailing ship from around the 16th to 19th century. Quarter galleries are a kind of balcony, typically placed on the side of the stern castle. A high, tower-like structure at the back of a ship that housed the officer's quarters. They function as a firing platform for the ship's marines and sharpshooters during boarding actions. The galleries also provided a structure that was ideally suited for attaching decoration and often bore carved wooden sculptures.
