A rare fully rigged contemporary model of an Armed Cutter, English, circa 1800 98x97x68cm(39x38x27in)
Sold for £9,600 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Scientific Instruments specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistA rare fully rigged contemporary model of an Armed Cutter, English, circa 1800
Footnotes
This model is believed to be based on the cutter "Flying Fish", but is one inch (to the scale) wider. It also bears a strong resemblance to the English Cutter depicted in Frederik Henrik af Chapman's "Architectura Navalis Mercatoria" published in Stockholm in 1768 (plate LX) but not fitted with oar ports.
Armed cutters were extensively used for dispatch and Customs duties. Lightly constructed with deep draft to compensate for an unusually lofty and powerful rig, they carried large crews and were capable of fast passages in any weather.
Admiral Matthew Buckle(1770-1855) was the son of Matthew Buckle, one of the most distinguished Naval Officers of the 18th Century. He entered the Navy in 1786 as Able Seaman on board HMS Salisbury, a 50 gun ship engaged on the Newfoundland Station. He rated as Midshipman in 1787 and for the next six years served chiefly on the Newfoundland and West Indian Stations, being commissioned as Lieutenant on 21st January 1791. In February 1793 he joined HMS Royal Sovereign, Flagship of Vice Admiral Thomas Graves, second in Command of the Channel Fleet under Admiral Earl Howe and was aboard the ship during the celebrated actions against the French Fleet under Rear Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse on the Glorious First of June 1794. Despite being deprived of the use of his limbs by rheumatic fever, he remained at his post throughout the action.
He was appointed Commander of the Sloop Ferret on 6 December 1796 and then Commanded the store Ship HMS Camel on the North American and West Indian Stations from 24th November 1800 to 24 September 1802. In that year he was promoted to Post Captain and from 4 May 1804 until 28 February 1810 he was in charge of the Portsmouth division of the Sea Fencibles. He subsequently received two commands on the Leith Station between 1810-1813 and became Rear Admiral on 10 July 1852.