Studio RT Ltd

Description

This is a framed Half Hull Model of the clipper ship Thermopylae by Whitby Shipwrights, which is backed onto hessian and mahogany framed. Apart from one other auction listing, we have been unable to discover any information about the makers.

Thermopylae was an extreme composite clipper ship built in 1868 by Walter Hood & Co of Aberdeen, to the design of Bernard Waymouth of London. Thermopylae was built for the Aberdeen Line, which was founded in 1825 by George Thompson. She measured 212' × 36' × 20.9', with tonnage 991 GRT, 948 NRT and 927 tons under deck. The under deck coefficient was 0,58. Rigged with royal sails, single topgallant and split top-sails.

In 1872, Thermopylae raced the clipper Cutty Sark from Shanghai back to London. Thermopylae won by seven days after Cutty Sark lost her rudder. From 1882 onward, Thermopylae took part in the Australian wool trade however, on this route Cutty Sark proved faster.

In 1897 she was sold to Portugal for use as a naval training ship and renamed Pedro Nunes. On 13 October 1907, the Portuguese Navy towed her down the Tagus river using two warships, and before Amelia de Orleans, Queen of Portugal, she was torpedoed with full naval honours off Cascais.

Frame size: 23 3/4" x 12" - 60.35cm x 30.5cm

Maximum depth: 2 1/2"

The model is in very good condition and comes with two brass mirror hangers already attached, to screw it to the wall.