Scratch Built Unnamed 18th Century Royal Model

Model size: 42” LOA (Length overall)  28” LOD   (Length on deck) 38 ¼” from bottom of base to top of mast  8” molded beam.     Scale 1”= 2.5’    Ratio 1:30 Length of vessel 70 Feet

The simple rig of this vessel with a a jib and foresail forward of the single mast with two yards for a square topsail, and aft, a fore-and-aft gaff headed mainsail marks this vessel as a British "Cutter" of the 18th Century. This is different than the contemporary two headsail single mast vessels of today. Cutters were a native British design that became popular in the middle of the 18th Century. The largest group were 68 ft. long, 111 tons and were crewed by 40 officers and men. They were typically armed with ten 18 pound carronades. and were used to transport officers and crew between the various ports and to perform dispatch services as a courier. During time of war, they were used by the Royal Navy in large numbers to hunt down the privateers that swarmed in the Channel and North Sea. Similarly, large numbers of them were used by the revenue services for patrolling the coastline in search of smugglers.

This model has eighteen large, ornate gold wreath embellishments, consisting of ten that are open though the bulwarks, but house only 4 cannons on each side*, and eight wreaths which are decorative. At the bow is a crowned lion figurehead with a crest on its chest. This royal shield also appears on the transom with a knight's helmet above, and a similar crest over the captain's gallery indicates the ship was owned by Royalty and had a more important purpose. * 2 cannons may be moved to the open ports at the bow to serve as "Bow Chasers".

Crossed flags and royal shield over the captain's gallery starboard light.

It is unfortunate that the maker did not provide her name, but research has discovered that King William III (1650-1702) had a similar vessel named HMS Mary that was launched in 1690 and saw service under a variety of rigs including that of a cuter until 1816. A remarkable record of longevity. 

	THE HMS MARY: Model scale: 1:32. A contemporary full hull model of King William III Royal Yacht, HMS Mary with a ketch rig, (circa 1690), built in the Navy Board style. Model is decked and complete with a cutaway of her bottom showing her ribs. Mary was rebuilt in 1727 at Deptford Dockyard. She then measured 76 ft 6 in long along the gun deck; 61 ft 6 in along the keel; with a beam of 22 ft 4 in and a hold depth of 9 ft 8 in. She was armed with eight 3-pounder guns, and had a complement of 40 men. Over her years of service she carried a variety of rigs which included that of a cutter and full rigged ship. She was finally broken up in 1816 after 127 years service.

Left: Coat of arms on transom has knight's helmet.                        Right: COA of King William III (1650 - 1702)

The close-up of the stern’s coat of arms pictured above shows a crowned lion on the viewer’s left, then a knight’s helmet and a unicorn to the right. The same coat of arms also appears over the port and starboard captain’s cabin lights. The lettering on the scroll reads 1004 on the left and illegible on the right. The coat of arms on the right is that of King William III, (1650-1702). The framed carving is much more distinct.

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS: This carefully handcrafted model of a royal British cutter has a midnight black hull with a heavy longitudinal rubbing strake and white bottom, and wood decks. The model sits on two large turned Walnut pedestals which rest on a grooved Walnut base.

The rig consists of a long bow sprit carrying the jib, then a forestaysail and next aft the mast with a spar for a square sail for downwind work. A large boomless mainsail is hanked to the mast  and is headed by a gaff. All the sails except the square topsail are in a furled position. The authentic looking light tan sails have the look of age. The panels are machine stitched. As a point of reference, sewing machines were invented by the Englishman, Thomas Saint in 1790, and their use spread quickly during the Industrial Revolution.

The spars, mast and deck are stained and the inside of the bulwarks are painted red. The eight cannons are made of wood with painted black barrels and red carriages. No seams are showing so the hull most likely is of block construction.  The maker's attention to detail is shown by the tiny brass hinges on the side opening hatches in the "well" to small, little, lamps made from wire for entering the officer's quarters at night. Worth special mention are the two transverse round timbers that go from beam to beam which serve as travelers. One is for the mainsail aft on the poop and other is forward of the mast tending to the foresail. The ship is steered by a simple tiller at the poop. No binnacle is fitted which may be an oversight. The large wood octagonal windlass at the forepeak has six levers and was used to raise and lower the two large old style iron anchors with wood stocks, one rigged to the cathead on each side.

There are carefully made rope fenders hanging from the shrouds and lines and sheets are tied to tiny wood cleats. The three large round stern lights have a red crown at their tops and are used as running lights for operating at night.

Details show ladder to the Well deck and the end of the tiller caped in gold

PROVENANCE: Purchased in England around 1985 from a tony London antiques dealer by the patriarch of a distinguished American family listed in Forbes 400. Sent to the U.S., it was on display in a private dinner club for many years. Now new to the market for the first time since in 30 years.  

 

HMS Mary from a painting by Willem van de Velden, the younger (1633 - 1707)

Detail of the cutwater and crowned lion figurehead

 

The portside of the Royal Cutter rigged ship model

 

This carefully crafted, fully detailed model of a British Royal Cutter Rigged Ship is Worthy of the most discriminating collector!

CONDITION: The model is in excellent condition considering its age. There is a 10 1/2 inch varnished spar with a continuous line from one end to the other and coiled line at the end that has remnants of glue. The oil painting of the HMS Mary shows this spar rigged under the bowsprit.  There is no associated glue mark under the model's bowsprit so it was decided to leave it as we found it. Recent repairs have been made to the flagstaff on the bowsprit, one round light at the stern and repairing a broken tiller. Everything else is without exception.

SHIPPING: The buyer is responsible for making arrangements for packing and shipping using his own forwarding agent. If the buyer wishes to use the seller's assistance for shipment, he shall hold seller harmless for any damages or loss arising out of their participation. There is a pack and send store in Stuart which is capable of handling this.

OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within five days of receipt in its original packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Shipping charges within the continental United States are  included in this offer if the error is our fault.

International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied cutomers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, Republic of China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, worthy, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Hebrides (Vanuatu), New Zealand, Discriminating, Nova Scotia, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI, Vanuatu (New Hebrides) and the Eastern Caribbean.

STANDARD FORMS OF PAYMENT are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. Our prices are quoted net to us so that the use of credit cards or PayPal incur extra charges. Terms on overseas sales are different.

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