A finely detailed prisoner-of-war bone model of a first class ship of the line, French,, early 19th century

The three-masted model with standing and running rigging, pinned and planked hull with galleries stern, red painted gun ports, horn strakes and carved and polychromed warrior figurehead, deck details include metal guns on bone carriages, capstan, stove pipes, water barrels, companionway and deck house, mounted on octagonal straw-work marquetry case with bone balustrades, surround and raised on four squat feet, the model 19cm x 21.5cm x 6.5cm, in modern glazed display case,
25.5cm x 28cm x 13cm cased

Provenance:
Collection Claude Vérité, Christie's, Paris, 24th June 2014, lot 100.

The Ship of the line was among the most prominent naval warship designs in use from the 17th century onwards. Such ships were particularly suited to the popular ship-of-the-line tactic, which comprised a column of ships firing their broadside cannons against their foe. The tactic favoured ships with the most cannons, culminating with the 19th century HMS Victoria which had over 120 guns. With the application of steam power in the mid-19th century, use of the Ship of the line declined sharply.

Among the finely carved details of the present model is the figurehead of a warrior clutching his shield.