ANONYMOUS (BRITISH, 19TH CENTURY)

Details

A Model of the H.M.S. Bounty
Anonymous (British, 19th century)
A very fine old model of Capt. Bligh's armed transport ship. This model with the hull built up from the solid is painted black on the topsides, has a copper plated bottom and a mahogany deck. The model is fitted with numerous details including: figurehead, anchors, anchor windlass, a pair of ship's boats lashed amidships, capstan, deck grating, pin and fife rails, ship's wheel, companionway, etc. A number of the details are modeled in ivory, these include the hawse pipe covers, stem head rails, pin rails, wheel, gangway steps and cannon posts. The model is very well rigged with three masts, standing and running rigging which includes ratlines, backstays, forestays, bracing lines, bowsprit, cross spars, spanker boom and gaff. The model is fitted with furled sail. The model is mounted on a pair of turned mahogany pedestals, mounted on a mahogany board and displayed in a glass case with mahogany base and brass trim.
23 x 8½ x 20¼ in. (58.4 x 21.6 x 51.4 cm.) model dimensions.

Special notice

Notice Regarding the Sale of Material from Endangered Species. Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country

Lot Essay

The Bounty (ex-Bethia) was an armed transport that was commissioned to sail to the South Pacific and bring breadfruit trees back to the West Indies for transplanting. The story of the H.M.S. Bounty is well known. Captain Bligh set sail on December 23, 1787 for Tahiti, arriving on October 26, 1788. After five months on the island the Bounty weighed anchor with more than a thousand breadfruit trees. Twenty two days later 5 members of the crew led by Fletcher Christian, seized the ship in a bloodless mutiny. After several un-successful attempts to land at different locations, until they landed on Pitcairn Island where they burned the ship. The story goes on with some of the mutineers escaping and other being captured.

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