A Model Of The U.S. Frigate CONSTITUTION

ANONONYMOUS; AMERICAN, 20TH CENTURY.

Details

A Model Of The U.S. Frigate CONSTITUTION
Anononymous; American, 20th century.
A fine model of this famous American frigate. The model built up from wood, with black painted topsides, a white waist and a verdis gris bottom. The topsides of the model have the hull planking and the deck planking scored. The model is fitted with numerous details, including: anchors, bollards, pin and fife rails, stove pipe, coils of line, deck gratings, ships boats stacked amidships, windlass, companionway, double wheel, skylight and others. The model is well rigged with three masts, bow sprit, standing and running rigging, ratlines, trees and tops, backstays, toping lifts, etc. The model is displayed on a mahogany base with four mahogany pedestals.
37 x 12 x 27½ in.(94 x 30.5 x 69.8 cm.) model on stand.

Lot Essay

The USS Constitution was launched on October 21, 1797 at Boston. Built by George Claighorne, she is a 44-gun frigate and is the oldest commissioned warship in the U.S. Navy. She earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" after a sailor saw a cannonball bounce off her hull. The USS Constitution was the mainstay of the War of 1812, during which she won all 40 of the battles in which she was engaged. In 1812 Constitution fought a famous battle with the British frigate HMS Java. After the battle Java was so damaged by gunfire that she was beyond saving - the only thing salvaged was her wheel which was used to replace that of the Constitution which had been smashed early in the contest, serving as a useful replacement and a badge of victory.

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