A FINELY DETAILED 1:36 SCALE SHIP MODEL FOR THE INFERNAL CLA...

Estimate

£3,000 - £5,000

A FINELY DETAILED 1:36 SCALE SHIP MODEL FOR THE INFERNAL CLASS BOMB KETCH H.M.S. CARCASS [1759]

the 30in. planked, framed and pinned hull painted white below the waterline with ebonised main wale, planked and pinned decks with fittings including anchors with catheads with carved masts, stovepipe belfry, recessed mortars with the fitted ship's boat over, capstan, belaying rails, guns and carriages, bound lower masts with standing rigging, white ensign and other details, mounted on cradle stand to green cloth display base with plate within Plexiglass wooden case -- 35 x 49½ x 19½in. (89 x 126 x 49.5cm.)

Horatio Nelson began his naval career in March 1771 when he joined his uncle's ship Raisonnable as a Midshipman. This posting proved a short one and, with England at peace with her neighbours, employment for a young and inexperienced seaman was difficult to find. Nevertheless, his uncle used what influence he had and, in May 1773, Nelson was appointed Coxswain to the bomb vessel Carcass, then being fitting out at Sheerness and preparing to accompany H.M.S. Racehorse on an expedition to the Arctic in a fresh attempt to find the so-called North West Passage into the Pacific. Back home by October the same year, the experience proved very worthwhile for Nelson including, as it did, his celebrated encounter with a polar bear on the pack-ice. Immortalised in Richard Westall's 1809 painting of the incident, Nelson - whose musket had misfired - was only saved from certain tragedy by a timely crack in the ice and a warning shot from Carcass.

Fine overall condition