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Napoleonic Prisoner-of-War Bone Ship Model
French Prisoner-of-War Bone Ship Model
Circa 1805
This exceptional Napoleonic-era ship model is a rare artifact of maritime and world history. Crafted by a French prisoner of war during the Napoleonic Wars, this finely detailed three-masted ship of the line is skillfully constructed from bone, using material left over from rations. The planked decks feature finely rendered details, including capstans, scored hammock racks, guns mounted in bone stepped carriages, bound masts with yards, stuns’l booms and full standing and running rigging. It is set within a finely executed straw-work waterline mount, secured with anchor devices at each corner, and presented in its glass case. Few examples of such scale and intricacy survive, making this a museum-worthy relic of wartime craftsmanship.
During the long years of conflict between Napoléon and King George III, French prisoners were often detained for years on de-rigged ships known as “Hulks” or in English prison camps. With limited materials, including mutton bones from rations, these prisoners began creating detailed items for sale at market stalls within the camps. While some produced boxes, games and curios, ship models such as this were the most admired and collected, particularly by British naval officers.
In case: 12 1/4" high x 18" wide x 9" deep
Circa 1805
This exceptional Napoleonic-era ship model is a rare artifact of maritime and world history. Crafted by a French prisoner of war during the Napoleonic Wars, this finely detailed three-masted ship of the line is skillfully constructed from bone, using material left over from rations. The planked decks feature finely rendered details, including capstans, scored hammock racks, guns mounted in bone stepped carriages, bound masts with yards, stuns’l booms and full standing and running rigging. It is set within a finely executed straw-work waterline mount, secured with anchor devices at each corner, and presented in its glass case. Few examples of such scale and intricacy survive, making this a museum-worthy relic of wartime craftsmanship.
During the long years of conflict between Napoléon and King George III, French prisoners were often detained for years on de-rigged ships known as “Hulks” or in English prison camps. With limited materials, including mutton bones from rations, these prisoners began creating detailed items for sale at market stalls within the camps. While some produced boxes, games and curios, ship models such as this were the most admired and collected, particularly by British naval officers.
In case: 12 1/4" high x 18" wide x 9" deep
French Prisoner-of-War Bone Ship Model
Circa 1805
This exceptional Napoleonic-era ship model is a rare artifact of maritime and world history. Crafted by a French prisoner of war during the Napoleonic Wars, this finely detailed three-masted ship of the line is skillfully constructed from bone, using material left over from rations. The planked decks feature finely rendered details, including capstans, scored hammock racks, guns mounted in bone stepped carriages, bound masts with yards, stuns’l booms and full standing and running rigging. It is set within a finely executed straw-work waterline mount, secured with anchor devices at each corner, and presented in its glass case. Few examples of such scale and intricacy survive, making this a museum-worthy relic of wartime craftsmanship.
During the long years of conflict between Napoléon and King George III, French prisoners were often detained for years on de-rigged ships known as “Hulks” or in English prison camps. With limited materials, including mutton bones from rations, these prisoners began creating detailed items for sale at market stalls within the camps. While some produced boxes, games and curios, ship models such as this were the most admired and collected, particularly by British naval officers.
In case: 12 1/4" high x 18" wide x 9" deep
Circa 1805
This exceptional Napoleonic-era ship model is a rare artifact of maritime and world history. Crafted by a French prisoner of war during the Napoleonic Wars, this finely detailed three-masted ship of the line is skillfully constructed from bone, using material left over from rations. The planked decks feature finely rendered details, including capstans, scored hammock racks, guns mounted in bone stepped carriages, bound masts with yards, stuns’l booms and full standing and running rigging. It is set within a finely executed straw-work waterline mount, secured with anchor devices at each corner, and presented in its glass case. Few examples of such scale and intricacy survive, making this a museum-worthy relic of wartime craftsmanship.
During the long years of conflict between Napoléon and King George III, French prisoners were often detained for years on de-rigged ships known as “Hulks” or in English prison camps. With limited materials, including mutton bones from rations, these prisoners began creating detailed items for sale at market stalls within the camps. While some produced boxes, games and curios, ship models such as this were the most admired and collected, particularly by British naval officers.
In case: 12 1/4" high x 18" wide x 9" deep
$18,850.00
Napoleonic Prisoner-of-War Bone Ship Model—
$18,850.00
Description
French Prisoner-of-War Bone Ship Model
Circa 1805
This exceptional Napoleonic-era ship model is a rare artifact of maritime and world history. Crafted by a French prisoner of war during the Napoleonic Wars, this finely detailed three-masted ship of the line is skillfully constructed from bone, using material left over from rations. The planked decks feature finely rendered details, including capstans, scored hammock racks, guns mounted in bone stepped carriages, bound masts with yards, stuns’l booms and full standing and running rigging. It is set within a finely executed straw-work waterline mount, secured with anchor devices at each corner, and presented in its glass case. Few examples of such scale and intricacy survive, making this a museum-worthy relic of wartime craftsmanship.
During the long years of conflict between Napoléon and King George III, French prisoners were often detained for years on de-rigged ships known as “Hulks” or in English prison camps. With limited materials, including mutton bones from rations, these prisoners began creating detailed items for sale at market stalls within the camps. While some produced boxes, games and curios, ship models such as this were the most admired and collected, particularly by British naval officers.
In case: 12 1/4" high x 18" wide x 9" deep
Circa 1805
This exceptional Napoleonic-era ship model is a rare artifact of maritime and world history. Crafted by a French prisoner of war during the Napoleonic Wars, this finely detailed three-masted ship of the line is skillfully constructed from bone, using material left over from rations. The planked decks feature finely rendered details, including capstans, scored hammock racks, guns mounted in bone stepped carriages, bound masts with yards, stuns’l booms and full standing and running rigging. It is set within a finely executed straw-work waterline mount, secured with anchor devices at each corner, and presented in its glass case. Few examples of such scale and intricacy survive, making this a museum-worthy relic of wartime craftsmanship.
During the long years of conflict between Napoléon and King George III, French prisoners were often detained for years on de-rigged ships known as “Hulks” or in English prison camps. With limited materials, including mutton bones from rations, these prisoners began creating detailed items for sale at market stalls within the camps. While some produced boxes, games and curios, ship models such as this were the most admired and collected, particularly by British naval officers.
In case: 12 1/4" high x 18" wide x 9" deep
