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Exceptional detailed and large and important Prisoner of War Model of the British 100 Gun 1st Rate Ship “Royal Sovereign” English/French circa 1790-1810. The core of the hull is wood and planked and pinned in bone from the keel to the topsides. At the bow is a carved figurehead in the form of a Roman warrior, hands at his sides and with a feathered headdress. The figurehead is supported by head rails with carved detail. The quarter galleries and transom are elaborately carved and pierced in bone with banded and rope-twist detail, the windows glazed in mica. The taff-rail, at the top of the transom, is cut and notched with a boom crutch and decorated with the heads of cherubs. Extending from the stern rails is a pair of davits rigged with hoisting lines and hooks. At the top of the transom, carved in relief, is an eagle, lion and dragon above double balconies with carved posts and railings. The lower portion of the transom is carved in relief and is fitted with a rudder with a decorated edge and check chains. The deck is planked and pinned in bone, and detailed with pin and fife rails, anchors hung out on posts, deck rings, cleats, capstan, belfry with turned bone posts and brass bell. The deck is cut out at the waist with carved railings and posts, and decorated with carved swags. On either side of the waist are a pair of boats swung out on hoisting lines. Other details include deck opening, ladders, poop deck with deck house, etc. Rigged with a bowsprit and three masts, each rigged with tops, trees, cross spars and stun' sail booms, all in bone, the standing and running rigging including ratlines running up from bone chain plates and rigged with bone deadeyes, turning blocks and fairleads. Other parts of standing rigging include stays, shrouds, intermediate shrouds, and running backstays. Running rigging includes sheets, halyards, topping lifts, bracing lines, and other rigged details. The Royal Sovereign was launched by the British Navy on September 11, 1786. (SM699)
Provenance: James A. Farrell (America, 1863-1943), was president of U.S. Steel. At the time of the publication of the India House book, the model was on loan to India House by James Farrell and he eventually gave it to the Club and the model became the property of India House. The India House was founded in 1921 and was located at One Hanover Place in the financial district of New York. James Farrell was a leader in founding the India House and collection and wrote the Foreword to the India House book. The India House Foundation was formed in 1999 to save the collection but were unsuccessful and the collections were sold off.
The model has a custom built marquetry base with classic geometric design made from multiple hardwoods and trimmed with holly. The perimeter of the base has an elaborate balustrade fence around the perimeter. The base slides in the case through a door and has attractive finial and feet. The base of the case is trimmed to match the model base. A handsome walnut table base sits below the case and has similar inlaid patters.
Literature: Carl C. Cutler's A Descriptive Catalogue of the Marine Collection at India House (At the Sign of the Gosden Head, New York: 1935), p. 53, The model is described in item #159 on page 53. A photograph of model, titled “The Royal Sovereign” is illustrated full page on pg. 101. It is mentioned in the book description that this ship, the H.M.S. Royal Sovereign was Vice-Admiral Collingwood's flagship of the lee division at the battle of Trafalgar. Under Vice-Admiral Collingwood, the H.M.S. Royal Sovereign was the first ship of the fleet in action at Trafalgar on October 21, 1805. She led one column of warships; Nelson's Victory led the other. As she cut the enemy line alone and engaged the Spanish three-decker Santa Ana , Nelson pointed to her and said, "See how that noble fellow Collingwood carries his ship into action!". At approximately the same moment, Collingwood remarked to his captain, Edward Rotheram, "What would Nelson give to be here?". Upon Nelson's death, Vice-Admiral Collingwood became the admiral in command of the fleet, and he proceeded to bring the British fleet together in the final victory.Provenance: James A. Farrell (America, 1863-1943), was president of U.S. Steel. At the time of the publication of the India House book, the model was on loan to India House by James Farrell and he eventually gave it to the Club and the model became the property of India House. The India House was founded in 1921 and was located at One Hanover Place in the financial district of New York. James Farrell was a leader in founding the India House and collection and wrote the Foreword to the India House book. The India House Foundation was formed in 1999 to save the collection but were unsuccessful and the collections were sold off.
The model has a custom built marquetry base with classic geometric design made from multiple hardwoods and trimmed with holly. The perimeter of the base has an elaborate balustrade fence around the perimeter. The base slides in the case through a door and has attractive finial and feet. The base of the case is trimmed to match the model base. A handsome walnut table base sits below the case and has similar inlaid patters.
A photograph of model, titled “The Royal Sovereign” is illustrated full page on pg. 101.
Description of Case: Walnut and holly custom case and table base for POW Model of HMS Royal Sovereign. The Case has a walnut and holly trimmed base sides and top. The case has a hinged door which can be opened by first removing the holy pin at the stern side at the top right of the case. At the bottom of the door is a narrow panel with 2 small holy balls which act as grips to remove the panel which then allows the door to swing open. On the model base there are two additional round pulls which can be used to pull or slide the model and base from the case. There are diamond shaped holy decorative inlays around the base. The feet are nicely carver with the matching inlay as are the bone caped finials.
The case sits on a matching walnut and holly stand. The legs are all inlaid at the edges with holly as is the top diameter of the stand. The two long sides have a holly trimmed recessed panels and the front and back have holly trimmed draws with holly draw pulls. The draws were created to house reference material about the model.
Condition; The model is in excellent condition and had some minor rigging restoration and a new base, case and stand were custom built to properly present and protect the model.
Dimensions of Base: Length 45 1/2 , Width 18 7/8, Thickness ½ n InchesDimensions of Case: Length 47 3/4, Width 21 1/4, Height 29 ½, Inches
Dimensions of model with Base: Model height 31.5". Length 41". Width 14.5".
Dimensions of Base: Length 45 1/2 , Width 18 7/8, Thickness ½ n Inches
Dimensions of Case: Length 47 3/4, Width 21 1/4, Height 29 ½, Inches
