A NAPOLEONIC 'PRISONER OF WAR' BONE AND IVORY MODEL OF A 48 GUN FRIGATE OF THE ROYAL NAVY
A NAPOLEONIC 'PRISONER OF WAR' BONE AND IVORY MODEL OF A 48 GUN FRIGATE OF THE ROYAL NAVY
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Prospective purchasers are advised that several co… Read more PROPERTY FROM A DISTINGUISHED PRIVATE COLLECTION 
A NAPOLEONIC 'PRISONER OF WAR' BONE AND IVORY MODEL OF A 48 GUN FRIGATE OF THE ROYAL NAVY

ANGLO-FRENCH, CIRCA 1810

Details
A NAPOLEONIC 'PRISONER OF WAR' BONE AND IVORY MODEL OF A 48 GUN FRIGATE OF THE ROYAL NAVY
ANGLO-FRENCH, CIRCA 1810
The hull of the model is planked in bone with a waist planked in baleen or horn; with a carved figurehead in the form of a Roman warrior; on a straw and wood plinth intricately decorated in geometric patterns and with capstan feet; with a mahogany base board with wood plaque inscribed 'A 48 GUN FRIGATE OF THE ROYAL NAVY. CIRCA 1810./ A BONE AND IVORY MODEL MADE BY FRENCH/ PRISONERS FROM THE NAPOLEONIC WARS WHILST/ CAPTIVE IN GREAT BRITAIN/ 1794-1815'; within a mahogany framed glass case
17 x 7 x 13 ½ in. (43.3 x 18 x 34.5 cm.), in glass case
Provenance
Private Collection, since before 1970, and by descent.
Special notice
Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

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Donald Johnston
Donald Johnston

Lot Essay

The war between Napoleon’s French navy and the naval forces of King George III of England lasted so long that the captured French prisoners had to find resourceful ways to spend their imprisonment, sometimes lasting more than eleven years. Though not treated like convicts, they were confined to the likes of prison hulks in naval dockyards, old castles, outdated fortresses, or purpose built prison camps such as Norman Cross or Dartmoor. On the encouragement of their captors, they formed their own quasi-artisan guilds to produce small objets d’art to sell in the camp’s periodic civilian open market.

One of the most popular objects sought by the English were the alluring ship models they created mostly representing, in a stylised form, British naval ships of the era. These were constructed from recycled cattle bone, boxwood and whale baleen.
The fine carving work and symmetric hull and deck planking exhibited on these models is remarkable, as well as the authenticity of their delicate linen or silk rigging.

The model is fitted with numerous details which include: anchors, capstan, gilt canons, a carved beak head, pin and fife rails, pierced and carved balcony railings, wood boats hoisted above the main deck, deck gratings, companionways, skylights and numerous other details all carved from either bone or ivory. The model is well rigged with three masts, standing and running rigging, bone turning blocks and deadeyes, rope bandings to the lower mast, dolphin stryker, and many other details.

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