A Model Of The U.S. Frigate CONSTITUTION

ANONYMOUS; AMERICAN, 20TH CENTURY

Details

A Model Of The U.S. Frigate CONSTITUTION
Anonymous; American, 20th century
A solid hull model with black painted topsides, a white waist and a copper plated bottom. The cap rail is of mahogany and the deck is planked in walnut. The deck of the model is fitted with numerous details, which include: deck gratings, pin and fife rails, ships boat amidsips and boats on davits and at the stern, ladders, rigged cannons on carriages, double wheel, binnacle, windlass, stove pipe, bell, and other details. The model is rigged with three masts, stun'sail booms, standing and running rigging, pennant and flag, and other rigging details. The model is mounted on a pair of brass pedestals and displayed in a mahogany framed glass case with a mahogany base.
46½ x 19½ x 63½ in.(118.1 x 49.5 x 161.3 cm.) cased dimensions 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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