Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 20

A Napoleonic era bone prisoner of war model of the 40-gun frigate ‘Creolian’

$72,557.80
£51,750
€61,487.29
CA$99,020.57
A$110,268.34
CHF 57,388.57
MX$1,359,595.28
NOK 730,887.40
SEK 686,963.30
DKK 458,771.49
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

A Napoleonic era bone prisoner of war model of the 40-gun frigate ‘Creolian’, the three masted barque with a planked hull, finely detailed with a carved poop deck and a female figurehead, intricate black thread rigging and a black plaque stating in gilt, Creolian. In the original glazed wooden case with a painted background of a sunset over a bay with ships on the horizon. French, circa 1800. Provenance Ivan Roll Amis, d. 1 July 1970 Richard Henry Allen Amis, CBE, thence by descent During the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815), large numbers of French soldiers and marines were taken prisoner. To help pass the time and generate a small income, they would make a variety of objects—including ship models—from simple, easily-sourced materials such as bone and wood for sale at local markets. Typically, the models were not made to scale and tools were limited, making the quality and attention to detail in this work even more remarkable. To realise a good price at market, the models were often named after famous ships of the time. It may well be that this ship was the ‘Créole’, a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy. She served in the Brest squadron, took part in Ganteaume’s expeditions of 1801 to Egypt, and was involved in the French acquisition of Santo Domingo (also known as the Era de Francia) and briefly detained Toussaint Louverture (a prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution).
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 21.5 in (54.61 cm)Width: 29 in (73.66 cm)Depth: 10.75 in (27.31 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1800
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Lymington, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU973041504202

More From This Seller

View All
A fine model of sailing ship Vimiera built for Duncan Dunbar, 1851
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
This wooden model is painted in both light and dark grey with a white gunport band and faux gunports, a golden lion figurehead and the name Vimiera in applied gold lettering on the b...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Nautical Objects

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Carved and Painted Model of Hms Emerald, 1811 and ‘Hms Emerald & Hms Amethyst
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A carved and painted model of HMS Emerald, 1811, the frigate finely modelled and painted with a white hull, black plimsole line, yellow topsides and red cannon ports, raised on the original mahogany stand with turned feet and a plaque reading ‘HMSEmerald, 36 Gun Frigate. Launched on the Thames in 1795. A scale model ½”-1’ made for Captain F. L .Maitland, her Commander 1806-1911 together with a painting of H.M.S. Emerald by Nicholas Pocock...
Category

Antique 19th Century British Models and Miniatures

Materials

Paint

Victorian Half Hull Model of the Three Masted Sailing Ship ‘Elizabeth’
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Victorian half hull model of the three masted sailing ship ‘Elizabeth’, shown facing right, the shaped soft wood hull with black painted top sides and applied shear line and gunwal...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Nautical Objects

Materials

Wood

Victorian Model of a Racing Yacht on a Wooden Stand Original Paint
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
Victorian model of a racing yacht, with brass fittings, on a wooden stand original paint topsides English, circa 1870.
Category

Antique 1870s English Models and Miniatures

Materials

Brass

A Victorian shipyard model of a sloop
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Victorian shipyard model of a sloop. This large boxwood model has a truncated mast and retractable bowsprit. The hull has an upright stem, wide beam, four metal rigging blocks on e...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Nautical Objects

Materials

Boxwood

Detailed Owner’s Model or Shipyard Model of a Double Ended Harbour Launch
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A detailed owner’s model or shipyard model of a double ended harbour launch, painted pale blue, the coach house with eight portholes, fitted with port and starboard lights...
Category

Vintage 1940s English Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

You May Also Like

Model of a bone warship, made by French prisoners, Great Britain, 1793-1815.
Located in Milan, IT
A British model of a sailing ship, made out of bone. Made by French prisoners of war (POWs), held in British prisons, during the Napoleonic Wars, which took place from 1793 to 1815 a...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bone

Antique Ship Model of an Armed Brig
Located in Norwell, MA
Nice antique ship model of an American brig. Deck details include cannons on carriages, capstan, anchors, longboat, gratings, etc. The model is rig...
Category

Vintage 1930s North American Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

Nineteenth Century Ship Model of a Frigate
Located in Norwell, MA
Antique ship model of an English Ship of the line. Three deck warship with cannon, longboats, belfry, figurehead, flags, etc. Fitted to a custom case. Small Antique Ship's Model 12x6...
Category

Vintage 1950s European Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

Antique Model of the Sailing Barque Argo
Located in Norwell, MA
Antique model of the barque Argo with much detail. Vessel has cabins with windows, hatches, capstans, helm, cleats, and ladders. Four lifeboats hang from davits. The model is rigged ...
Category

2010s North American Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

Ship Model of the Armed Navy Brig Boxer
Located in Norwell, MA
Scale model of the American brig "Boxer" of Charleston, South Carolina, Built in 1831 for the U.S. Navy. The model carries ten cannon on carriages. Nicely rigged with all appropriate...
Category

Vintage 1950s North American Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

Ship's Model "Spanish Fragata Espanola/Ano 1780" in Acrylic case
Located in Miami, FL
Ship's Model "Spanish Fragata Espanola/Ano 1780" in Acrylic case Offered for sale is a probably 1970s ships model "Spanish Fragata Espanola/Ano 178...
Category

20th Century American Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass