CHALLENGER EXPEDITION 1872-1876
(Lots 115-117)
The Challenger Expedition of 1872-6 was the first great voyage of oceanographical exploration. In forty-one months, the steam Corvette HMS Challenger visited all the oceans of the world, with the exception of the Arctic, in a programme of oceanographical research. The Admiralty provided the vessel and crew and naval command was given to Capt. George Strong Nares, and the scientists were led by Charles Wyville Thomson, a student of deep sea fauna. The expedition was charged 'to investigate the physical conditions of the deep sea throughout the three great ocean basins, that is, to ascertain their depth, temperature, circulation, & c., to determine the distribution of organic life throughout the areas travessed, at the surface, at intermediate depths, and especially at the deep ocean bottom'. At sea, they assumed a station at every 200 miles to take soundings, and repeated this task at 362 stations on the four year voyage.
CHALLENGER EXPEDITION, 1872-76
Details
CHALLENGER EXPEDITION, 1872-76
Bronze and Mahagony Candlestick, in the form of 3 anchors below a plinth with a pierced crown candle nozzle surrounded by alternating King Penguins and Admiralty Coronets, with a spreading bell, on a stepped circular plinth and square base. 25cm high; 28cm square.
HMS Challenger was the first steamer to cross the Antarctic Circle, doing so on 16 February 1874. The expedition made important hydrographic and biological surveys, including soundings which suggested that Antarctica was indeed a continent. The present handsome nautical candlestick was possibly made to grace the Challenger herself, or was made afterwards to commemorate the success of the voyage, which had been keenly followed by the public.
Bronze and Mahagony Candlestick, in the form of 3 anchors below a plinth with a pierced crown candle nozzle surrounded by alternating King Penguins and Admiralty Coronets, with a spreading bell, on a stepped circular plinth and square base. 25cm high; 28cm square.
HMS Challenger was the first steamer to cross the Antarctic Circle, doing so on 16 February 1874. The expedition made important hydrographic and biological surveys, including soundings which suggested that Antarctica was indeed a continent. The present handsome nautical candlestick was possibly made to grace the Challenger herself, or was made afterwards to commemorate the success of the voyage, which had been keenly followed by the public.