Half Model of an Admiralty Yacht

Entry

Polychromed wooden half block model of the starboard side of an elaborately decorated single-masted, flat-bottomed yacht, mounted on a framed, rectangular wooden backboard that has been painted white and blue.

The model has one deck with a cabin aft, of which the floor is raised to allow for the tiller to pass underneath, and a poop over the cabin. There are six small circular gun ports in the broadside, the planking has fittings for a leeboard and five chainplates. On deck from forward to aft are a windlass, a chimney, a knighthead behind the mast, a round deckhouse, a companion ladder and a small and a large oval deck light. The beakhead features a carved figurehead of a crowned rampant lion holding a coat of arms with two crossed anchors. A carved sea horse and a mermaid support the cathead. The head is further decorated with allegorical figures and dolphins. The stern has a square tuck with one gun port. The flat counter is decorated with foliage, dolphins, a putto blowing a conch shell horn and a coat of arms with a lion bearing a sword and a bundle of arrows. The flat transom has three decorated windows and carvings of a quarter figure, a putto, foliage and draperies and one stern lantern on the top. The side of the cabin is decorated with a Neptune and mermaids on sea horses and has a quarter badge decorated with carved putti and draperies. Below the stern a broad rudder is positioned. The kingpost is decorated with a bearded head. The sheer rises towards aft. Two wales, painted black, and a sheer rail are indicated. The hull is flat-bottomed and painted white below the waterline. The position of a single mast and the bowsprit is shown in a truncated form.

According to Obreen, this yacht was built for the Admiralty of Amsterdam.¹

Scale unknown.