Mark P

Congratulations;

That is a well-made model, and the setting in the case is extremely effective, a very good method of setting off a model indeed.

All the best,

Mark P

Very nice work indeed; congratulations on a beautifully made model.

Well done!

Mark P

Good Evening gberger;

I congratulate you on a beautifully executed model; very atmospheric and with lots of interesting details. The crew really bring it to life. Well done indeed! Something to give pleasure to all who behold it; and an especial pleasure to the person who created it.

All the best,

Mark P

Well done Jeronimo;

I agree with the previous comments: an unusual model, well done, with many points of interest to draw in the eye. 

Lovely work!

All the best,

Mark P

Congratulations John, on a nicely atmospheric model, with lots of points of interest to look at.

All the best,

Mark P

Congratulations Okesa!

That is a lovely model, with a high standard of workmanship and accuracy. A work of art to treasure for many generations.

All the best,

Mark P

Congratulations Menne;

A very atmospheric model, full of life and interest.

Well done!

Mark P

Good Evening Paul;

Congratulations on a nicely made model; a lovely feast for the eyes. Thanks for posting this.

All the best,

Mark P

Very nice work osaul; did the cat get the seagull's tail too?

Congratulations!

Mark P

Very nicely done work Pitr; congratulations on a lovely model.

All the best,

Mark P

Good Evening Javier;

Thanks for showing us your work; she's a delightful little model. Congratulations!

All the best,

Mark P

Nicely made James;

She's a lovely little ship.

All the best,

Mark P

9 hours ago, mati said:

OOOPs!! Mati didn't say this! I pressed the wrong button, and can't get rid of this!

Thanks Mati;

All the best,

Mark P

A clever piece of work, well done Glen!

All the best,

Mark P

Good Evening Mati;

That is a lovely model you have created. Sincere congratulations. May I ask what plans you used, as I am very interested in early 17th century ship design.

All the best,

Mark P

That's a nice model, congratulations. 

All the best,

Mark P

That's a lovely little piece of artistry.

Congratulations!

Good Afternoon John;

That is a nicely atmospheric model. The crewmen are a great finishing touch. Congratulations and well done to you, Sir!

All the best,

Mark P

Thanks for showing us this, goemon. Nice work, and a lovely model. Congratulations!

All the best,

Mark P

Nice neat work: congratulations on a great model

Congratulations BlackWolf on a lovely model.

Those galleys were striking vessels, certainly.

All the best,

Mark P

Very nice work Don!

Congratulations

Good Evening again, Woodeater;

Thanks for adding the extra pictures.  If anyone is interested in making a model of her, which would be a very complicated undertaking, I have photographs of the original carver's bill, covering many pages, which describes everything in great detail, including all the internal decoration of the cabins.

All the best,

Mark P

Good Evening Woodeater;

Well spotted! It must have been completed in 1702 or later then. 

The government of William III was very keen to make a trade deal with Russia, hence the gifts they gave to the Tsar when he was in England.

It is quite possible that Anne's government had the same ambition, and sent gifts also. Her husband, George, was a Danish prince, and it is possible that he looked on a trade agreement as advantageous to his country, which benefited from Baltic trade.

As he was Lord High Admiral, he would have been in a good position to arrange such a gift.

Does anyone know more of the provenance of this model. 

I believe that a famous modeller, I think it was Donald McNarry, spent many years trying to obtain photographs of this model from the Soviet Government, and they refused, claiming it was secret information.

I have just spotted that the saddlecloth of the horse in the stern carving has the initials WR on it. So presumably the carving of the model was begun before Anne's accession, and completed after it.

All the best,

Mark P

Hi Woodeater;

Thanks for posting these pictures. This is the model of the Sovereign which was perhaps given to Tsar Peter when he was in England, although as he was here in 1698, and the ship was launched in 1701, maybe it was sent to him later.

As the old Royal Sovereign burnt in 1697, it is unlikely that a complete model of her replacement would have been ready so quickly, only a year later.

It was the cost of her carving which caused the Navy Board to issue its infamous edict in 1703, banning most forms of carved decoration on ships.

All the best,

Mark P