AMER WINTER 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Thursday, February 8, 2018.
ESA - NAPOLEONIC PRISONER OF WAR BONE MODEL OF A 48 GUN FRIGATE.1st quarter 19th century, England. This small model most likely made by French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars while captive in Great Britain. Mounted in a domed glass case. The 3-masted frigate with planked bone decking and hull of pinned construction mounted with 48 guns on two decks. Model made with twisted silk or baleen strung rigging with well detailed fantail and female figurehead. Note: The war between Napoleon's French Navy and the naval forces of England lasted so long that the captured French prisoners had to find ways to pass the time. Although the British did not treat them as convicts, they were confined to prison hulks, old castles or purpose built prison camps such as Dartmoor. Their captors encouraged the prisoners to form their own groups or guilds to produce small objects of art to sell in the camp's civilian markets. Among the most popular were ship models that they created representing British naval ships of the period. French prisoners of war obtained beef and mutton bones from the food rations issued to them. After gathering bones for use in model building, prisoners boiled the bones and bleached them in the sun, to make the bones easier to shape and carve. In addition to cattle and mutton bones, prisoners made use of their own hair to fashion sail rigging, and tissue paper to create sails. SIZE: Model: 14" h x 15-1/2" l. Dome: 16-1/2" h x 17-3/4" l x 8" approx. w. PROVENANCE: Contents of a lifetime collection "Brook Crossing," South Pomfret, VT. CONDITION: Glass dome and velvet covered base original and in good condition. The model is sound. Rigging generally complete. One area of rigging in disrepair on main mast beneath top gallant spar. Generally very good overall. 52806-213 HMG (5,000-10,000) ESA -