548

Circa 1805-1810

EXCEPTIONAL AND LARGE NAPOLEONIC PRISONER-OF-WAR BONE MODEL OF THE FIRST-RATE 110-GUN H.M.S. "ROYAL SOVEREIGN"

Hull built up over a wooden plug 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. Displayed on a pair of brass stanchions within a modern plexiglass case with base and built-in lighting.
Model height 31.5". Length 41". Width 14.5". Case height 72.5". Length 47". Width 17.75".
Condition: Overall excellent condition.

  • Provenance:
    James A. Farrell (America, 1863-1943), president of U.S. Steel, gifted to India House.
    Property of India House, New York.
  • 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, #159. It is noted this is a model of the H.M.S. Royal Sovereign (which is unlikely), and is referred to as a "magnificent Admiralty working model...", also noting 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.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We require prompt payment and removal of your purchases as stated in Paragraph 12 of the Conditions of Sale. If you plan to pick up your purchases, please call ahead and we'll make every effort to have your items ready. Our physical address is 1483 Route 6A, East Dennis, MA. Pick up of smaller items at our Mystic, CT location is also available with advance notice.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide shipping quotes until the invoice had been paid in full.
In house shipping is offered exclusively though UPS. All items are shipped with UPS insurance (max. $50,000). UPS insurance is billed at $2.70 for the first $100 and at $0.90 per hundred afterwards. Eldred's charges a minium $15 handling fee per package plus actual UPS shipping charges.
COLLECTION OF PURCHASES: Delivery or shipping arrangements must be made within seven (7) days from the close of the auction for all purchases. All items must be removed from Eldred's facilities within fourteen (14) days of the end of the auction. All items remaining after fourteen days may be subject to a $15/per item/per day storage fee. No items will be released unless storage fees are paid in full. Items remaining over thirty (30) days from the close of the auction may be sold for the buyer's account minus auction and storage fees.

August 20, 2021 9:30 AM EDT
East Dennis, MA, US

Eldred's

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000