A rare shipbuilders' cut-a-way model of the R.M.S. "Ascania" for the Cunard Line
British, circa 1925
the hull built up in lifts in 1/10 in.=1 ft. scale, the starboard side finished with a red bottom, white waterline, and black and white topsides with inset portholes, anchor, lowered gangway, rudder and brass propeller. The decks are of veneer with the planking lines carefully drawn in India ink, and detailed with jack staff, chocks, hawse pipes, anchor windlass, vents and ventilators, companionway, cargo masts and booms with cargo winches, fore and aft masts with standing and running rigging, crow's nests and wind indicator; promenade deck, boat deck, enclosed bridge with bridge wings, double stacked life boats, funnel in red and black Cunard livery, deck railings, flagstaff and other details.
The port side of the model is cut-a-way and illustrated with the cross section of the ship (similar to the fold out deck plans popular for the period) showing from the keel to the deck the locations and rooms including: the food and supply stores, boiler room, engine room, crews quarters, 1st and 2nd class accommodations, grand staircase, dining rooms, lounges, men's smoking room and women's drawing room, captain's and officers quarters, and numerous other areas of the ship meticulously laid out and detailed. Displayed on three baluster turned German silver pedestals on a mahogany plinth within a mahogany framed glass case.
63-½ x 19-½ x 27-½ in. (161 x 49 x 70 cm.) cased.