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Lot Essay
One of the labels affixed to the back of the work reads:
"The Buckingham built in 1888, had an interesting association with Royalty. This four mast barque is believed to have been the only vessel of the British Mercantile Marine that was launched by Queen Victoria. Perhaps the fact of the ship being named after the palace may have been an inducement. Her bow was honoured by a figurehead of the Queen holding a rose, a magnificent example of the figurehead wood-carver craftsman... Later in 1921 she was re-christened Muscoota. At one renaming it was Mrs Wilson, wife of the President, who did the honours. Prestige indeed for the old ship having been named by a Queen of England and then a President's Lady... During World War II, Muscoota was towed to Milne Bay for use as a coal hulk for American small ships. She was sunk there and was broken up after the war."
The work was probably painted prior to 1922, as it is recorded that on Christmas Day 1922, the Muscoota was involved in a collision in which she lost the figurehead of Queen Victoria, which is clearly visible in the painting.
"The Buckingham built in 1888, had an interesting association with Royalty. This four mast barque is believed to have been the only vessel of the British Mercantile Marine that was launched by Queen Victoria. Perhaps the fact of the ship being named after the palace may have been an inducement. Her bow was honoured by a figurehead of the Queen holding a rose, a magnificent example of the figurehead wood-carver craftsman... Later in 1921 she was re-christened Muscoota. At one renaming it was Mrs Wilson, wife of the President, who did the honours. Prestige indeed for the old ship having been named by a Queen of England and then a President's Lady... During World War II, Muscoota was towed to Milne Bay for use as a coal hulk for American small ships. She was sunk there and was broken up after the war."
The work was probably painted prior to 1922, as it is recorded that on Christmas Day 1922, the Muscoota was involved in a collision in which she lost the figurehead of Queen Victoria, which is clearly visible in the painting.