An Antique Model Of The Clipper Ship Glory Of The Seas
An Antique Model Of The Clipper Ship Glory Of The Seas

ANONYMOUS; AMERICAN, CA. 1890

Details
An Antique Model Of The Clipper Ship Glory Of The Seas
Anonymous; American, ca. 1890
A very fine, near scale, model of this Boston clipper ship. The hull of the model is built up from the solid with black painted topsides, a white waist and a dark green bottom. The deck of the model is of veneer which has been stained and scored to replicate deck planking. The bulwarks and the cap rail are painted white. At the bow of the model is a figure head of a woman which is also painted white. the deck of the model is fitted with anchors, windlass, pin and fife rails, ships boats on the cabin tops, cabin tops with drawn details such as doors and windows, deck hatches, skylights, ladders, companionway, wheelhouse and other details. The model is well rigged with three masts, standing and running rigging, bowsprit, cross spars, stun'sail booms, spanker gaff and boom, and other rigging details. The model is displayed on a mahogany stand which in a glass case with brass trim, a mahogany base and stand (modern).
45½ x 18½ x 58¾ in. (115.6 x 47 x 149.3 cm.) cased dimensions on stand.

Lot Essay

The clipper ship GLORY OF THE SEAS was built by Donald McKay on his own account at his East Boston shipyard in October of 1869. On her maiden voyage she arrived in San Francisco under the command of Capt. John N. Geit with Mr. Donald McKay on board. While in San Francisco Mr McKay sold her to J. Henry Sears & Co. and she was taken back east by Capt. William Chatfield.
The GLORY OF THE SEAS had principal dimensions of LOA: 240'-2", Beam: 44'-1", Draft: 28'-0" and a displacement of 2,009 tons. She was a very sturdy ship as evidenced by her long career. While she was know as a clipper ship she was actually a fast packet because of her full lines. She was a good looking ship with an elliptical stern and a figurehead of a classical lady with long flowing gowns. She was the last ship built by Mr. McKay who was known as the builder of the FLYING CLOUD and other celebrated clipper ships. The GLORY OF THE SEAS was consistently on of the fastest ships making record passages from New York to San Francisco and from San Francisco to Australia.

After the turn of the century the GLORY OF THE SEAS was owned by the Seattle Shipping Co. And by Barneson & Hibard. She was later sold to parties in Victoria, British Columbia to be used to transport lumber and then was sold to satisfy creditors. She was then converted into a floating salmon cannery, and was towed from place to place packing fish. The GLORY OF THE SEAS met her demise by fire while at berth in Puget sound in May of 1923.

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