R. Michael Wall, Guest Curator

Judy N. Lund, Co-Curator

R. Michael Wall, Managing Director

American Marine Model Gallery

Gloucester, Massachusetts

American Marine Model Gallery Gloucester, Massachusetts 2008 - 2013

World’s Only Gallery Devoted to the Fine Art of

Ship ModelsRepresenting Internationally Acclaimed

Marine Model Artists

Gallery Services Include:– Consultation & Collection Management– Custom Models (historic or yacht)– Conservation Restoration– Appraisal– Custom Display Units

Ship Model Classification

CLASS A: Scratch-Built Model: Model built entirely from scratch materials by the builder with no commercially fabricated parts except cordage, chain and belaying pins.

CLASS B: Modified Scratch-Built Model: Model built from scratch, but supplemented by the use of some commercially fabricated accessories.

CLASS C: Modified Kit Model: Model built from materials provided in commercial kit, supplemented by other commercially fabricated parts or by scratch-built parts.

CLASS D: Kit Model: Model built entirely from materials provided in commercial kits.

SPECIAL: Sub Categories:Model built and/or displayed in any of the following methods: Antique, Waterline, Cross Section, Cut-Away, Exposed Interior, Sailing, Half-Hull, Bone/Ivory, Diorama, Power, Working, Builder’s Model, Extreme Miniature, Ship-in-a-Bottle, Shadowbox, Americana, Folk Art, Decorative, Pond Model, Production, Other.

DOUCMENTATION

Fine Ship Models are recognized by top museums and collectors as Decorative

Works-of-Art

Manuel Perry, whaling bark

The physical ARTISTRY of a professional marine painting involves the Craft of -

Precise drawing

William Bradford – skiff c.1860

Creating the composition of the scene.

William Bradford - frigate

Application of paint

Charles W. Morgan, John Stobart, oil.

Authentic research – whaler Californiaby Professional Marine Model artist Roger Hambidge

Craft of wood working - creating the framed hull, then the crafts of metal-smithing, paint work, and fine rigging.

CaliforniaClass-A Scale ¼” = 1’

CaliforniaCreatively presented with the portside showing natural wood exposed frames, the starboard with oxidized copper sheathing, artistic weathering throughout and implementation of soft textured cloth sails.

California by professional marine model artist Roger Hambidge

SURVEYING A SHIP MODEL

Beyond a model’s aesthetic artistry - when looking consider:

1. Woodworking and craftsmanship of the hull

2. Quality and care of paint work or natural wood finish

3. Level of detail on metal work and fittings

4. Delicateness of rigging and comprehensiveness.

Six Models of the icon, Charles W. Morgan, by six different modelers

They made subjective interpretation of the information, and approached the

craftsmanship at their own level, and preferred presentation

Six different presentations of the

tryworks!

1

2

4

3

6

5

5

Erik Ronnberg’s Kate Cory, note the variegated copper sheathing and soft texture of the cloth sails, all add to the even palate of colors used by the artist.

International whaling - off-shore craft. Note the simplicity of construction for the northwestern Artic models, while the Japanese Sampans are exquisitely decorated.

Half Hulls:

The three on top are traditional waterline lift models.Matilda SearsContest??Napoleon, can be disassembled via removing bulkhead sections and hull lines can then be developed.

American Whaleboats:Nine examples representing the variety of construction and presentations different artists achieve for this small whaling craft.

Pleasure Craft: Joseph W. Appleton’s - AvantiTypifies the three most important aspects of a yacht model: polished paintwork, detailed working fittings, and customized twisted wire rigging.

Tom Borges - ConcordiaThough a large scale model, this also demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship that can be achieved with paintwork and fittings.

MGM’s - Ahab and crew!

Professionally built 1956 studio model, exhibits multifaceted aspects of detailed woodworking of the hull, clever weathering and articulating work action figures, made for the movie Moby Dick.

Charles W. Morgan – structural aspectsOpen framed half-hull; miniature cut-away model; and actual ships hanging knee #73.

200 year old models needing Conservation and StewardshipAbove: 74-gun bone Napoleonic era model; above right: early 19th c. French gun-boat; bottom right: early 19th c. American 18-gun brig.

1933 - 1945 President Franklin D. Roosevelt,

model builder and collectorPeter Ness, James Arnold

Ship Models in the White House

1961 - 1963 President John F. Kennedy

1977 - 1981President Jimmy Carter

1981 - 1989President Ronald Reagan,

model builder

President Ronald Reagan

“Life wasn’t complete until you’ve built a model ship” c.1950

USS Challenge

USS America

1989 - 1993 President George H. W. Bush

1993 - 2001 President William Clinton’s

state gift to Japanese Priminister Tomiichi Murayama 1995

Gloucester Fishing Schooner: Gertrude L. Thebaud

Some interesting Custom Ship Model projects provided by:

Antique prisoner-of-war ‘chip-wood’ model, c.1805 model 1 1/2”

long [$12,000]

18th c. British Navy Board model Most expensive $1,200,000. [Christie’s – London sale 2002]

Rarest model: 18th c. micro ivory carving in a cameo setting [$75k]

Cameo: 3 ½” x 3”

Most Flamboyant: Le Medusa, by conceptual artist Yinka Shonibare. 5’ x 6’ display [$250k]

2010London’s Art Council –

Fourth Plynth AwardYinka Shonibare

HMS Victory

National Gallery of Art – Trafalgar Square

CLIENTS & REFERENCES

The White House Smithsonian InstitutionMystic Seaport Museum Peabody Essex MuseumThe Mariners’ Museum South Street Seaport MuseumNational Maritime Museum Musée National de la MarineBermuda Maritime Museum Museum of Fine ArtsHart Nautical Museum - M.I.T. San Diego Maritime MuseumCarnegie Museum Ships of the Sea Maritime MuseumCape Ann Historical Association Farnsworth Art MuseumKendall Whaling Museum U.S. Naval Academy MuseumU.S.S. Merchant Marine Museum U.S. National Park ServiceU.S. Department of State

New York Yacht Club St. Francis Yacht ClubRoyal Bermuda Yacht Club Eastern Yacht ClubAmerican Yacht Club Boston Yacht ClubCorinthian Yacht Club Herreshoff Marine MuseumNewport Harbor Nautical Museum Bermuda National TrustIndependence Seaport Museum Maine Maritime MuseumNew Bedford Whaling Museum San Francisco Maritime MuseumWadsworth Athenaeum Addison Gallery of American ArtVentura County Maritime Museum Perry-MacMillan MuseumU.S.S. Constitution Museum U.S. Department of the TreasuryU.S. Internal Revenue Service

THANK YOU

R. Michael Wall © 2013