拍品 253
253
A fine builder's model of the Steam Yacht Lady Blanche, built 1907 by Ramage and Ferguson Ltd., Leith, for Mrs. Annie Blanche Smith,

細節
A fine builder's model of the Steam Yacht Lady Blanche, built 1907 by Ramage and Ferguson Ltd., Leith, for Mrs. Annie Blanche Smith,
with masts, yard, standing and running rigging, figurehead in the form of a turbanned gentleman, anchors with 'D' chains, winch, cleats, fairleads, bollards, ventilators, deck rails, companionways, deck lights, lockers, awning staunchions, superstructure with glazed and panelled wheelhouse with open bridge with helm, binnacles, telegraph, gratings, chart table, stayed funnel with safety valve extension pipe, hooter and siren, glazed and panelled passenger accommodation, engine room lights, fire buckets, aft steering position with helm and binnacle, four ship's boats of different types in davits, three with gratings, thwarts, oars and boathook and many other fine details (some minor damage). The hull, finished in red, pale blue, white and lacquer (some minor chips), with lacquered brass and copper deck fittings with gilded scroll and leaf decoration and with single screw and rudder, is mounted on two turned wood columns on original mahogany table. Measurements overall -- 71 x 63¼in. (180.3 x 160.7cm.) Case measurements -- 35 x 59¾in. (89 x 152cm.) Model measurements -- 16½ x 47in. (42 x 119.5cm.) Framed photo
See colour illustration

拍品專文

A handsome steel screw schooner, Lady Blanche, was built for Mrs. Valentine Smith of London by Ramage & Ferguson of Leith in 1907. Designed by Cox & King of London, she was registered at 360 tons gross (405 Thames and 154½ net) and measured 155 feet in length with a 24 foot beam. Carrying Madder sails, she was also fitted with a Ramage & Ferguson 3-cylinder 84n.h.p. engine and, as her owner was a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, she was berthed in London.
Still in Mrs. Smith's ownership when the Great War began in 1914, Lady Blanche was ideal for war service and was hired by the Admiralty on 7 March 1915, armed with 1-12pdr. and a 1-6pdr guns and put to work as an auxiliary patrol vessel in Home Waters. Surviving the War and released from Government Service on 20 March 1919, she returned to civilian use having been acquired by Mr. Thomas Jack of Larne, Co. Antrim. Despite further changes of ownership, she remained in excellent condition and was requisitioned again by the Admiralty when the Second World War broke out in the autumn of 1939. Initially used as an anti-submarine vessel carrying the pennant FY014, she was relegated to an accommodation ship in July 1942 and eventually stood down in November 1945. Since she does not appear in the post-War Lloyd's Yacht Registers, it is presumed that she was broken up, having so deteriorated during her wartime service as to be not worth refitting.