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A French Prisoner of War Model of HMS "Prince of Wales" 66x28x48cm(26x11x19in) image 1
A French Prisoner of War Model of HMS "Prince of Wales" 66x28x48cm(26x11x19in) image 2
A French Prisoner of War Model of HMS "Prince of Wales" 66x28x48cm(26x11x19in) image 3
Lot 319

A French Prisoner of War Model of HMS "Prince of Wales"
66x28x48cm(26x11x19in)

5 July 2005, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £20,400 inc. premium

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A French Prisoner of War Model of HMS "Prince of Wales"

hull of timber, striped in buff with black wales and pierced for three decks of guns, with lifted portlids and turned brass cannon. Painted below the waterline. Carved ivory figurehead of a Roman warrior, painted and decorated trailboard, finely carved and decorated stern and quarter galleries with delicately framed glazing. Painted and carved bulwarks, with ivory screens amidships. Timber decks with fine detailing, including capstan, belfry, water breakers, delicately carved rails, gratings, companionways, binnacles and wheel. A pair of finely made ship's boats are slung out to either side from the course yards, and the Captain's Gig is hung from davits aft. Well-made masts and spars, with decorated fighting tops and extremely fine standing and running rigging (in need of some minor attention). Mounted on crutches and stabilised by fine rigging onto a decorative parquetry baseboard with ivory turned pillars. In a period bronze frame glazed display case. 66x28x48cm(26x11x19in)

Footnotes

This model was made in the early 1800's and was originally owned by Captain George Gooch of East Anglia, it was displayed for many years at Gunton Old Hall, near Lowestoft, the home of Gooch's daughter. Of exceptional quality, this model differs in several details to the actual vessel of that name, particularly in the figurehead and number of guns, not unusual as the maker would not have access to actual drawings of the vessel.

HMS Prince of Wales 94 guns, was built at Portsmouth in 1794. She was present at Admiral Calder's action against the French just before Trafalgar, but did not take part in the battle. After serving in the Baltic and the Mediterranean, she was broken up in 1822.

Additional information