Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Presentation Model of America’s Cup Winner America by G. L. Watson

$54,383.04
£39,750
€46,766.69
CA$74,686.94
A$83,589.44
CHF 43,646.74
MX$1,019,796.12
NOK 554,038.05
SEK 525,747.99
DKK 349,231.54
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

This cased presentation half hull model is of the first winner of the America’s Cup, the schooner America. The copper coloured bottom is painted with black topsides and has a finely carved garland around the bow. There are two stump masts, a caprail and bowsprit. It is set on a mahogany backboard with a Bakelite name plaque engraved ‘Schooner Yacht ‘America’ Scale ¼ = 1 foot to W.G.J. from G.L.W’. A label identifies the case maker as ‘Lambert Picture Frame Manufacturer, 34 Albert Gate, Hyde Park, S.W.’ and another describes the model, including the fact that the case was added in 1903. It then explains the initials W.G.J. and G.L.W. ‘This model was presented by G.L.Watson to W.G.Jameson. George L.Watson was one of England’s leading yacht designers. He designed four America’s Cup Challengers which included: Thistle, Valkyrie, Valkyrie II and Shamrock II. He also designed the King’s Britannia, and the Kaiser’s Meteor. William G.Jameson was probably the most successful amateur helmsman in the U K in the 1880’s and the 1890’s. Jameson introduced Lord Dunraven to yacht racing in 1887. Dunraven was to build three challengers for the America’s Cup, all designed by G.L.Watson. Jameson in 1892 acted as an adviser to the Prince of Wales and introduced him to Watson who designed his Britannia. Jameson also advised Thomas Lipton in his Shamrock II challenge. Clearly, Watson and Jameson worked closely throughout their careers. Scottish, 1887. Provenance: 1887 George L. Watson presented this half hull to William G. Jamieson 1903 Unknown owner(s) thence The Glen Foster Collection 1999 Hyland Granby Antiques, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts 2002 The Kelton Collection of Maritime Art & Artifacts Probably the most famous racing yacht ever built, and the first winner of the America’s Cup, this schooner, designed by James and George Steers, was built by a syndicate of New York Yacht Club members to sail to England. The purpose of this visit was twofold: to show off U.S. shipbuilding skills and make money through competing in regattas. Only launched on 3rd May 1851, she had crossed the Atlantic and won the 53-mile race around the Isle of Wight by 22nd August that same year. America was captained by Richard Brown, who was a skilled member of the Sandy Hook Pilots group, renowned worldwide for their expertise and speed in manoeuvering schooner-rigged pilot boats. These vessels and crews had to be fast, for harbour pilots competed with each other for business. Ten days after she won the regatta she was sold to British owners, firstly, John de Blaquiere, 4th Baron de Blaquiere and then Henry Montagu Upton, 2nd Viscount Templetown, who renamed her Camilla, and finally Henry Sotheby Pitcher. Camilla was returned to the United States by Henry Edward Decie in 1860, and used in the American Civil War until she was finally renamed America and, armed with cannon, served in the United States Navy. On August 8, 1870, the Navy entered her in the America’s Cup race at New York Harbor, where she finished fourth. For the next 50 years she changed hands numerous times in a repeated cycle of successful competition followed by neglect, probably due the phenomenal costs of big yacht racing. In 1921 she was donated to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis but again fell into disrepair until finally the shed which housed her collapsed during a heavy snowstorm 1942 and the remains of the shed and ship were scrapped and burned in 1945. America was one of only three ships in commission in the U.S. Navy in both the Civil War and World War II, joined by the USS Constitution and USS Constellation. Image courtesy of G. L. Watson & Co. Ltd / Scottish Yachting Archives. We are indebted to Dr William Collier, Managing Director of G. L. Watson & Co. Ltd, whose research has unearthed both this drawing of plans of America’s hull and Watson’s own notebook on Britannia, or design No. 270, as she was then. The first entry reads ‘Racing Cutter 87ft [waterline length] per W G Jamieson’ followed by ‘Note of costs as given to the Prince of Wales’, the total was £8,300. The drawing is one of a series that were made for models and there is at least one other of America made at the same time and given as a thank you present in connection with the Valkyrie IIchallenge.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 31 in (78.74 cm)Depth: 5 in (12.7 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1887
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Lymington, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU973033068452

More From This Seller

View All
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 Half Hull Model of a 3 Masted English Schooner
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Victorian half hull model of a 3 masted English schooner, shown facing left, the shaped soft wood hull with black painted top sides and applied wood toe rail and gunwales, the bow ...
Category

Antique 1870s English Nautical Objects

Materials

Wood

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

Small Varnished and Painted Pond Yacht Hull
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
Small varnished and painted pond yacht hull of a classic racing yacht of the 1920s on a modern Perspex stand.
Category

Vintage 1920s English Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood, Paint

A Fine Presentation Half Hull Model of the Hawthornbank, launched in 1889
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Fine Presentation Half Hull Model of the Hawthornbank, launched in 1889 and Built by Russell and Co of Greenock and Glasgow for Andrew Weir of Glasgow A fine and important half h...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Fine Shipyard Half Hull Model of the Northern Light
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A fine Shipyard half hull model of the NORTHERN LIGHT. Still retained in its original case and set upon its original backboard. The condition and quality of this lovely model is supe...
Category

Vintage 1910s English Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

You May Also Like

America's Cup "Enterpriese" of 1930
Located in Norwell, MA
19 September 1930, the Wilkes Barre Record reported: "Final boat race ends in victory for Enterprise. Vanderbilt's yacht makes clean sweet of series with Shamrock V". Skippered by champion yachtsman Harold Vanderbilt CBE (July 6, 1884 – July 4, 1970), the Enterprise challenged Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock V in defense of the Cup. The model of the J Class yacht is displayed in a glass and brass trimmed showcase. Model details include brass capstan...
Category

20th Century Nautical Objects

Scale Half Model Of Americas Cup Yacht "Puritan"
Located in Norwell, MA
Carved woo half model of the 1885 America's Cup Yacht Puritan. The hull is painted white above the waterline and green below. There is a planked wood. mahogany deck, hatched, skyligh...
Category

2010s North American Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

Architect's Half Model of Wrigley Yacht Wasp
Located in Norwell, MA
Period builders model of the motor yacht "Wasp". Superb example of the model makers art. We present this model of the Wrigley Family Yacht "Wasp". Wasp was a forty size foot motor cruiser built by Great lakes Boat...
Category

Vintage 1920s North American Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

Fine Half Model of the Schooner Yacht America P-SM383
Located in Norwell, MA
Sleek Half Model of America of 1851, First Winner of the America’s Cup. This Model has to planked Deck, Cabin, Skylights, Stubbed Masts, Hatches, Davit, Companion Way, Sunken Cockpit...
Category

2010s North American Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

America's Cup Yacht "Defender" of 1895
Located in Norwell, MA
Model of the America's Cup yacht "Defender" winner of the 1895 race, defeating Valkyrie III. The New York Yacht Club yacht was built and designed by Herreshoff for railroad magnate a...
Category

20th Century Nautical Objects

Model of the America's Cup "Puritan", 1885
Located in Norwell, MA
Expertly crafted model of the America's cup yacht "Puritan". Model is built with planked mahogany deck, skylights with brass bars, brass fittings, tiller, full suit of line...
Category

20th Century Nautical Objects