4079

Circa 1935

IMPORTANT CASED MODEL OF THE AMERICAN WHALESHIP "JAMES ARNOLD"

By renowned Boston ship model builder Peter Ness (1890-1976). Plank-on-frame "scratch built" from mahogany, the materials and treatment consistent with the other known Peter Ness models, with each plank attached to the ribs with tiny brass nails. Incredibly detailed with a planked mahogany deck, a figurehead in the form of a whaleman poised to strike a whale with his harpoon, wood and metal anchors, an elaborately constructed anchor windlass, a raised deck house with an opening to provide light to the helmsman, ship's wheel and steering mechanism below, an applied stern board with "James Arnold New Bedford" in gold leaf lettering above a well-carved spread-wing eagle, etc. Outfitted for whaling with a whaleboat on davits on the starboard, three whaleboats on davits on the port side, and two upside down atop a platform at the stern, the boats with a complement of whaling implements and oars. Elaborate tryworks with brick sides, copper top, pots and chimneys. A pair of hatches and a large round hand-driven sharpening stone are located behind the tryworks. Cutting-in stage at the center of the starboard side is in its working position, held by rigging and blocks. Three mahogany masts with mahogany yardarms, circular iron lookout stations near the tops of the fore and main mast, and pin rails around each mast mounted to the deck. Original red, blue and white painted "James Arnold" banner flies from the main mast. Highly detailed and accurate rat lines, standing and running rigging. Displayed in its original Peter Ness-made case on a pair of black-banded oak oil casks set into chalks atop a mahogany base with molded ebonized border. Also includes:
1) A copy of a newspaper article picturing Peter Ness working on a ship model, captioned "Peter Ness, 20 years a sea skipper, proudly displayed his models of clipper ships in 1929. ...".
2) A list of voyages of Jesse T. Sherman, who went on seven whaling voyages between 1860 and 1885, five aboard the James Arnold, his last voyage as captain.
3) Copy of an August 6, 1961 article "Whalers' Killing of Quarry Is Told by Girl in Letter" about letters written by Captain Jesse Sherman's daughter, who sailed aboard the James Arnold with her father and mother.
4) Copy of Peter Ness's obituary "Peter Ness, 86, master builder of model ships".
5) Copy of a May 17, 1962 letter to an insurance company about a floater policy on the model and alerting them the model was currently in the possession of Peter Ness, "who built the model", so he could "clean it and build a glass case for it", which confirms the model and case were made by Ness. The letter also indicates Ness told the owner the model had a value of about $1,000.
Case height 26". Length 31.5". Width 8.25".
Condition: Very well preserved. All original rigging. Original American flag has been replaced due to the deterioration of the cloth.

The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact Eldred's before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction. 

  • Exhibited:
    New Bedford Whaling Museum: "The Art of Ship Model", February 28, 2013- February 28, 2014.
    Lent by a previous owner. Lot includes copies of the loan agreement, the model with an insurance value of $25,000, as well as letters from the museum's registrar and collections manager and an American Marine Model Gallery receipt.

    Notes:
    The endeared dean of ship model making, Peter Henrick Ness immigrated to Boston from Norway in 1912. He worked as a baker until he turned his ship model hobby into a full-time profession, working out of a basement shop in East Boston. His rich family history of seafaring helped him create a ship's blueprint in his mind, allowing him to construct incredibly accurate models from scratch.

    Unlike other craftsman who took artistic license, Ness fabricated models as if he was building a miniature ship. They are heavier and bulkier, and the spars, for instance, are thick and taper less at the ends. Ness hand-forged his own brass fittings, such as anchors, bells and wheels, he used chain instead of string, and he properly rigged through the deadeyes and the ratlines rather than using glue.

    Ness specialized in models of Boston shipbuilder Donald McKay (1810-1880)'s vessels. Many Ness models have been exhibited at and are part of the collections of the Smithsonian, the New Bedford Whaling Museum and Boston's Museum of Science, and a whaler he built was displayed in the White House during the Roosevelt administration.

    Ness had a brother, Olaf, of Dedham, Massachusetts, who was also an accomplished model builder.

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August 10, 2023 9:30 AM EDT
East Dennis, MA, US

Eldred's

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $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