BONE IVORY PRISONER OF WAR FRIGATE SHIP MODEL<SCRIMSHAW>

GUARANTEED AUTHENTIC

A Very Special Model for a Very Special Person

The National Maritime Museum in London, England has an extensive collection of Prisoner of War model ships some of which are valued at over 40,000 GBP.

Check them out on the internet

MADE TO SELL FULLY RIGGED FOR: $6,500.00
PAYMENT & SHIPPING: SPECIAL CONDITIONS APPLY

Presented for auction is a model of a ship of war which is typical of a Frigate of 1812. She is made entirely by hand of bone ivory one plank at a time, and follows the original method of construction and rigging. Individual strakes are used to plank the hull and deck just as the real ships were built. The model comes complete, but with its masts and spars down to save on shipping.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Since this is a one-of-a-kind offering, we have not set the rigging in place, because after sale, it would then have to be taken down because the model would be too large to transport easily. Instead, we have reduced the reserve to a fair price with the difference being an allowance to have the buyer's local hobby shop set the rigging in place if that was the buyer's desire. The model was erected by the maker, and all the shrouds and stays are designed so that the masts and spars can go up with only minor effort. However, this is not a task for someone who doesn't have knowledge of a square rigged ship's rigging or is not experienced in using their hands.

The vessel has carved stern castles, and is armed with 22 miniature cannons, 11 on each side. This handsome testament to the model maker's work of art stands ready to do battle.

The model's gear and fittings are true to the original ship's design, are all made of bone ivory, and include a working rudder, boom jaws, grating, dead eyes and all the little details that make for a museum quality recreation. The model mounts by two carved finials to period type stand. It authentically replicates a War of 1812 Frigate as might have been crafted by a French Prisoner-of-War incarcerated by the British in Dartmoor Prison during the period 1775-1825. The planks or strakes, are secured using carved pegs just as in the real craft. Every part and piece of gear is hand made from farm animal bone, This includes the hull, masts, tiller, gaff and spar, cannons, and deck houses. Standing rigging is flax. Many hundreds, maybe thousands of hours, went into the making of this authentically crafted model which is complete in every respect.

APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS:

Length without bowsprit                       27" long
Width at rail                                              7"
Distance from deck to bottom of base 7"
Length of tallest mast                            29"
Total height                                             36“

WEIGHT: 18 pounds

OUR GUARANTEE OF SATISFACTION: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original packaging using the same method of transport as when it was delivered to the buyer or to the buyer's representative. Return items must be insured for their full value. A prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Unfortunately, no refund can be made for the cost of delivery, packaging and handling.

HISTORY: From 1803 to 1812, Britain and France seized almost 1,500 American vessels. The War was fought by merchant ships, because the U.S. had almost no Navy. The battle cry was; "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights!" During the War of 1812, the U.S. Navy and Privateers together captured 30,000 prisoners, while the American army captured 6,000 British prisoners. Privateers captured British prizes worth almost $40,000,000. American Privateers generally carried from six to ten guns, with a single long gun, called "Long Tom," mounted on a swivel in the centre. They were small in length, 70 to 90 feet, usually manned with fifty persons, besides officers, all armed with muskets, cutlasses, and boarding-pikes, commanded to "burn, sink, and destroy" the property of an enemy wherever it might be found, either on the high seas or in British ports.

HISTORY OF PRISONER OF WAR MODELS: The art of French-Prisoner-of-War is best remembered for their model of sailing ships of war. But they also did other carvings to while a way the time. Models and items like this were made from dried and bleached mutton bones from their meals, and ‘Dieppe Ivory’. The guards, had a ready market for the finished models.

HM Prison, Dartmoor was built at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, to house prisoners of war, it later became a convict prison - perhaps the most notorious the world. Disease was rampant often causing an early termination to the time served by the French sailors. The worst period of deaths was between November 1809 and April 1810 when 500 men died. The French section of Dartmoor Prison Cemetery held just under 2000 men. The men buried in shallow graves. After burial the wind and rain soon eroded the sodden peat and the animals grazing on the land, especially pigs began to expose the bones of the men buried there. The sun bleached their bones. These bones – called ‘Dieppe Ivory’ – were often used in the construction of ship models and other articles.

SHIPPING & PACKING: Due to the nature of this item, the buyer should make his own arrangements for packing, pick-up, and special delivery. The seller will assist in this process, but shall not actively participate unless special "hold harmless" arrangements are made. We have sold six similar, but smaller models, but in each case delivery by courier was arranged at nominal expense to the buyer.

PAYMENT: Payment shall only be made by Cashier's Check, bank to bank wire transfer, money order, or personal check in which case, shipment will be made after the funds have cleared. No PayPal or credit cards accepted on this offering.

Copyright, 2004 by Land And Sea Collection, All rights reserved