Lot Essay
Servia was built and owned by Houghton Brothers of Bath, Maine, and launched from their yard in December 1883. Registered at 1773 tons, she measured 234 feet in length, with a 41 foot beam and a 26½ foot draught. Apart from the occasional voyage under a relief master, Servia was commanded by Captain David Gilmore for the whole of the sixteen years during which she remained in the Houghton Fleet, ending when she was sold in 1899.
Although no record breaker, Servia was a reliable ship and operated on various routes during her career. Her principal run was New York to San Francisco, with an average passage time of 138 days, but she also did seven voyages carrying grain to European ports. Additionally, there were three or four trips to the Orient, including New York - Kobe (Japan) - Manilla - New York in a total of 265 days during which she achieved her best-ever run of 273 miles in one day.
At the end of 1899, arriving in San Francisco after her tenth outward passage to the Pacific Coast, Servia, was sold to a syndicate of owners including Captain Henry Nelson, the owner and master of the Columbia. He immediately took command of the newly purchased vessel although he handed it over to Captain Anderson when he (Nelson) subsequently became the sole owner of Servia some years later. Following her sale, Servia remained in Pacific waters and made a number of voyages to Alaska under charter. On 6 November 1907, during one such charter, she was at Karlus loading canned salmon for San Francisco when an unusually heavy gale blew up at about midnight. Servia's anchor chains could not hold her in the high sea and she was soon driven onto rocks about 75 feet from the shoreline. Held fast, she was dismasted and quickly on her beam ends, breaking up completely within a few hours of striking. All but three of the ship's company managed to get ashore through the wreckage but Servia herself was a total loss.
Servia is portrayed close hauled, under all plain sail, as seen from the port leeward aspect. She displays her identity L, C, B, H under the U.S. ensign. The blue and white houseflag flies at the main mast, H signifying Houghton and S, Servia, this addition of the vessels initial letter being the firm's customary practice.
Marie Edouard Adam was born in Brie-Comte-Robert 29kms south east of Paris, moving to Le Havre with his wife and son about 1873/4. His son Victor Charles Edouard Adam 1868-1938, with whom he should not be confused, was also a ship portraitist, active from the late 1890's to the early 1920's, all his paintings being of steamers. Inferior to his father as a draughtsmen, he also lacked his skill in depicting a realistic sea.
We are grateful to Mr Sam Davidson for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.
Although no record breaker, Servia was a reliable ship and operated on various routes during her career. Her principal run was New York to San Francisco, with an average passage time of 138 days, but she also did seven voyages carrying grain to European ports. Additionally, there were three or four trips to the Orient, including New York - Kobe (Japan) - Manilla - New York in a total of 265 days during which she achieved her best-ever run of 273 miles in one day.
At the end of 1899, arriving in San Francisco after her tenth outward passage to the Pacific Coast, Servia, was sold to a syndicate of owners including Captain Henry Nelson, the owner and master of the Columbia. He immediately took command of the newly purchased vessel although he handed it over to Captain Anderson when he (Nelson) subsequently became the sole owner of Servia some years later. Following her sale, Servia remained in Pacific waters and made a number of voyages to Alaska under charter. On 6 November 1907, during one such charter, she was at Karlus loading canned salmon for San Francisco when an unusually heavy gale blew up at about midnight. Servia's anchor chains could not hold her in the high sea and she was soon driven onto rocks about 75 feet from the shoreline. Held fast, she was dismasted and quickly on her beam ends, breaking up completely within a few hours of striking. All but three of the ship's company managed to get ashore through the wreckage but Servia herself was a total loss.
Servia is portrayed close hauled, under all plain sail, as seen from the port leeward aspect. She displays her identity L, C, B, H under the U.S. ensign. The blue and white houseflag flies at the main mast, H signifying Houghton and S, Servia, this addition of the vessels initial letter being the firm's customary practice.
Marie Edouard Adam was born in Brie-Comte-Robert 29kms south east of Paris, moving to Le Havre with his wife and son about 1873/4. His son Victor Charles Edouard Adam 1868-1938, with whom he should not be confused, was also a ship portraitist, active from the late 1890's to the early 1920's, all his paintings being of steamers. Inferior to his father as a draughtsmen, he also lacked his skill in depicting a realistic sea.
We are grateful to Mr Sam Davidson for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.