An exceptional Navy Board model of a 36 gun frigate, English, third quarter of the 18th century, 104x28x51cm (41x11x20in)
£125,000 - £175,000
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Find your local specialistAn exceptional Navy Board model of a 36 gun frigate, English, third quarter of the 18th century,
Footnotes
Navy Board or Admiralty models are certainly the most highly-prized examples of historic ship models found in any private or public collections. They portray in perfect detail the form and often complex structure on naval ships from the 17th and 18th centuries. Using high-grade materials and sometimes displaying, with exquisite accuracy, the ship's external decoration and internal furnishings. Although contemporary paintings and plans give a good idea of how a full-rigged ship looked like during this period, these three dimensional models give a unique insight into the naval architecture and decorations of their day.
Why these models were originally built is uncertain. It has been suggested that they were submitted by the shipbuilder, together with a set of drawings, for inspection by the members of the Navy Board prior to the construction of the full-size ship. It is, however, surprising that Samuel Pepys, although making many references to ship models in his famous diary, did not mention their connection with ship design. Pepys himself, formed an important collection of ship models during his long tenure in office as Clerk of the Acts and later as Secretary to the Admiralty.
If these highly detailed models were not made as architectural pieces, it may be assumed that they were built on commission, perhaps as expensive gifts, for particular patrons and noblemen. This may account for the fact that so many Navy Board models do not depict specific vessels. Another suggestion is that they were fashioned as the same time as the ship itself, and used during the period of construction to demonstrate to the Surveyor of the Navy the progress of work, rather than endeavouring to portray this on the actual site of the shipyard.
No doubt many Navy Board models were made by the shipwrights themselves as an exquisite celebration of the full-size warships that left their yard for service in the Royal Navy. Whatever their original purpose, Navy Board models are a unique record, in miniature, of the industrial technology of shipbuilding in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Saleroom notices
The case for this model has been damaged and will be available to the buyer after repair.