Segelschiff
Zweidecker-Linienschiff mit drei Masten, aus Knochen und Walbarten
Dating
ca. 1800Description
Zweidecker-Linienschiff mit drei Masten, aus Knochen und Walbarten, getakelt, ca 60 Geschütze, englische Flagge (?), sehr sorgfältig gearbeitet, sogenanntes Gefangenenmodell.Signature / Inscription
Signatur / Beschriftung: Beschriftung: vermutlich englische FlaggeObject type
Object (three-dimensional)Geography
Territorium: vermutlich EnglandMaterial / Technique
aus Elfenbein und Fischbein, getakelt, mit BodenbrettDimensions
1:250 340 x 120 x 300 mm ca 1000 gInventory number
VHS-6676Legend
Two-decker ship of the line, around 1800
Scale about 1:250
Model made of bones and baleen.
Warships around 1800
The construction of men-of-war reached its peak with the heavily armed ships of line and frigates in the 18th century. The name was derived from the fighting tactics: in battle, the ships were in line formation, one behind the other. This allowed their heavy broadsides armament to be used with maximum effect.
The ships were classed according to the number of gun-decks. Ships of the line carried two or three, frigates only one covered gun-deck.
The great three-decker ships of the line had more than 100 cannons – all muzzle-loaders, about 1000-man crew and a displacement of over 2000 tons. Two-deckers with around 74 cannons were however more common.
The frigates were smaller with greater manoeuvrability and operated outside the fire zone of the line ships. Expeditions to far-distant operation theatres were mainly undertaken by frigates, as the line ships were insufficiently seaworthy for ocean voyaging.
The last great battle with ships of the line was fought at Cape Trafalgar in 1805 – in which around 60 ships of the line confronted each other.
Technical data
Main colour
weiss, beige, braunSystematics
• Sailboats
• Military
Literature
Elfenbeine aus Ceylon. Luxusgüter der Renaissance, Signatur: WKM 3