A Very Fine Model Of The S.S. Normandie

ANONYMOUS; AMERICAN, LATE 20TH CENTURY.

Details

A Very Fine Model Of The S.S. Normandie
Anonymous; American, late 20th century.
This is a well detailed and finely scaled model of this famous passenger ship in her original configuration when launched in 1935. The hull of the model is built up from metal and resin with a red painted bottom, black and white topsides with a white waterline. The hull is fitted with hand turned copper portholes, and pierced with vertical windows below the boat deck. The decks of the model are planked in basswood and detailed with black caulking between the planks. The model is fitted with numerous details, including: jack staff, whale back, cargo hatch and cargo cranes, deck railings, life boats on davits, forward and aft masts, ladders, three funnels painted in French Line livery, benches, light posts, wind baffles, flag staff, propellers, rudder and other details. The model is mounted on a black painted shipping board.
72 x 8¾ x 20¾ in. (183 x 21.6 x 52.7 cm.) model on stand.

Lot Essay

Built by Penhoet, St. Nazaire, the Normandie was launched in 1932 and was the largest ship in the world until 1940. On her maiden voyage, from Le Havre to New York, she broke the Rex's record, winning the Blue Ribband, breaking it again on her return voyage eastward. She was taken over by the US Navy in 1941 and renamed Lafayette. During a fire in 1942, because of the water pumped into her, she became top heavy and capsized onto her side. She was sold by the Maritime Commission to be broken up in 1946.

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