Vintage Ship Model, 1825, Set of 2

Beautiful antique ship model made of different types of painted wood.

This model was most likely made as a toy as we can tell by the less detailed construction that mainly gives a general impression. So that would mean that this ship, with extra weight in the hold, once sailed onto a pond. Another possibility, but less likely, is that it was build just to be decorative.

Although the construction is simple, it is realistically built. So we can see what kind of ship is depicted here. That is a so-called ‘ship of the line’, a type of sailing warship that formed the backbone of the major navies of the Western world from the mid-17th to the mid-19th century.

Originaly it would have three masts with sails, but unfortunately those are lost in time. Nevertheless we look at a decoratif ship that has acquired a realy beautiful patina.

The model is old, most likely made in the early 19th Century, and quite large. Please note that some original antique glasses, supporting the idea of being a toy, are still present. It comes with the pedestal.

With a special thanks to Mr van der Vliet, Head of collections at the ‘Het Scheepvaart’ National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam.