A Travel Agents Model Of The S.S. FRANCE

J. GAUTIER; FRENCH, CA. 1962

Details

A Travel Agents Model Of The S.S. FRANCE
J. Gautier; French, ca. 1962
A waterline model mounted on the original blue base board. The hull of the model is built up from the solid with black painted topsides to the sheer line and white up to the baot deck. The model is painted in French Line livery, and is detailed with main mast, life boats on davits, name boards, funnels, cargo cranes and booms, windows, portholes, skylights and other details. At the stern of the model is the builder's plaque, which reads: Modeles En Reduction/J. GAUTIER/1, Rue Fondere - Marseille 4e.
55 x 9¼ x 11 in. (139.7 x 23.5 x 27.9 cm.) Model on baseboard.

Lot Essay

Born the S.S. France, with the keel laid in 1957 at St. Nazaire, France, she was launched on 11 May, 1960. She was part of the great transatlantic liner fleet, the trade for which collapsed in the late 1960's due to airline competition. However, the S.S. France worked on until 1974, when she was laid up at Le-Havre, France, to be sold for scrap. Her principle dimensions are 1,035 feet long, a width of 111 feet, and a draft of 35 feet.
Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) bought the 76,049 ton France for $18 million and refitted the grand ship. She steamed off to her new life in May 1980, with $130 million in upgrades. She now carries 2560 passengers with a crew of 900.

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