November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
An extremely rare and important Dockyard half model of cutter for a US Navy frigate, circa 1825. The model measures 20-5/8" from “stem to stern” with an 18-1/2" keel and is 2-1/2" abeam and 3-3/4" high at this same (widest) point; the hull built up in four lifts of mahogany, with applied stem, keel and rudder post, the three lower lifts each being 1/2" thick. It is mounted to a green-painted, 3-3/4" x 23-1/2" backboard with centered hanging hole at top, secured on verso of board by four, handmade screws and inscribed in graphite on same “Frigate’s Cutter.” The cutter model features six oarlocks cut into its gunwales and appears, in scale and proportions, to closely match the dimensions for 36' cutter or launch for a first class frigate (USS Constitution, etc.) as prescribed during the 1810s-1840s (see manuscript boat plans in USS North Carolina Rigging Book, lot # this sale). The method of construction and finishing of this half model matches other mid-1820s dockyard half models known for US Navy vessels, including a circa 1828 one of the USS Fairfield sold as lot 40 at Bonhams Maritime Sale, NYC, 28 Jan. 2014. CONDITION: The upper left corner of the original painted backboard (3-3/4" down x 3-1/2" across) was apparently broken off and replaced/restored in-kind at some time in its past, as was the rudder stem of the hull. JLK