Nadia Bellingeri
Sale Manager, Private Sales & Themed Sales
Lot 117*
A finely detailed prisoner-of-war bone model of a first class ship of the line, French, early 19th century
Amended
27 October 2021, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£10,000 - £15,000
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A finely detailed prisoner-of-war bone model of a first class ship of the line, French, early 19th century
The three-masted model with standing and running rigging, pinned and planked hull with galleries stern, red painted gun ports, horn strakes and carved and polychromed warrior figurehead, deck details include metal guns on bone carriages, capstan, stove pipes, water barrels, companionway and deck house, mounted on octagonal straw-work marquetry case with bone balustrades, surround and raised on four squat feet, the model 19cm x 21.5cm x 6.5cm, in modern glazed display case,
25.5cm x 28cm x 13cm cased
25.5cm x 28cm x 13cm cased
Footnotes
Provenance:
Collection Claude Vérité, Christie's, Paris, 24th June 2014, lot 100.
The Ship of the line was among the most prominent naval warship designs in use from the 17th century onwards. Such ships were particularly suited to the popular ship-of-the-line tactic, which comprised a column of ships firing their broadside cannons against their foe. The tactic favoured ships with the most cannons, culminating with the 19th century HMS Victoria which had over 120 guns. With the application of steam power in the mid-19th century, use of the Ship of the line declined sharply.
Among the finely carved details of the present model is the figurehead of a warrior clutching his shield.
Saleroom notices
Please note the following footnote information, in addition to the printed catalogue: POW pontoon models were made by French prisoners of war during the First Coalition and the Napoleonic Wars (1792-1815). The models were mainly made from the leftover bones of their food ration. The prisoners were interned on de-rigged war ships, so-called Hulks, which were anchored off the south coast of England. The small works of art were used as exchange objects, Later English Captains also ordered models of their ships. The execution of the models was carried out with a lot of imagination because it was not possible to work according to shipyard plans. Usually several prisoners got together and each specialized in certain tasks. Estimates are based on a total of about 300 manufactured models, half of which have been preserved today. Among the finely carved details of the present model is the figurehead of a warrior clutching his shield. Similar figureheads could be found on the French ships of the line "Apollon" and "Achille". According to the vendor, there is a note affixed to the underside of the marquetry base suggesting that this model is of the HMS Northumberland, the vessel that transported the Emperor Napoleon to his final Exile on St Helena August 1815 (See lot 150 The transfer of Emperor Napoleon from the HMS Bellerophon to HMS Northumberland 7th Aug 2015.) The Ship of the line was among the most prominent naval warship designs in use from the 17th century onwards. Such ships were particularly suited to the popular ship-of-the-line tactic, which comprised a column of ships firing their broadside cannons against their foe. The tactic favoured ships with the most cannons, culminating with the 19th century HMS Victoria which had over 120 guns. With the application of steam power in the mid-19th century, use of the Ship of the line declined sharply.
