Beckmann

Hi Alexandr, That was really just a coincidence. I just opened my book Volume 1 Rogers Collection in Annapolis and there it was. Here are two better pictures. Also interesting: Rogers Collection Volume 2 page 34: Figureheads depicting Minerva and Neptun. (watch the helmet :)) and from the book Navy board ship models: Second Rate from 1675: SLR 0003 Allegorie of a crowned figure being carried over the water in a chariot, drawn by eagles. Same figurehead see SLR 0002 St Michael: And SLR 0386 First Rate from 1702 a figurehead depicting the abduction of Europe by Zeus. Matthias

Well, do you know the figurehead of 90 gun ship of the line St Georg from the year 1701? It shows St Georg fighting a dragon. Ther are a couple of models, often before 1703 with mythological figurehead-arrangements . If you want, I can send you some more photos.

Hi Alexandr, the bavarian and the french army used to have such helmets, here are some examples from the middle of the 19th. century. Matthias

These people were quite International. Wiedewelt learnt his art in the Netherlands in 1692 he was for 4 years assistant of dutch carver Thomas Quellinus. Afterwarts 2 years at Antwerpen with Artur Quellinus.(Father of Thomas). From 1698 to 1715 he worked in Paris. From 1715 on he was in Kopenhagen, were he stayed the rest of his life .Thomas Quelinus had been a carver at Kopenhagen as well,.before he moved to the Netherlands. I think in those times everybody looked at Paris. French stile and art at the court of Louis Quatorze was the ultimate example. That is him. The Medaillon was made by his son Johannes Wiedewelt, who was a famous sculptor himself, but not in maritime context. Matthias

Hi Alexandr, the reason is, that there was no german navy before the ironclads. The Hansestädte like Lübeck and Hamburg had a small navy and Prussia and Austria. Later Schleswig-Holstein as well. But often there was no lokal shipyard-capacity and so, they purchased ships at the Netherlands and in England. There was a wooden german merchant navy, but these ships usually had no lions as figureheads, because that is a royal symbol. The Altona Museum has got a nice collection of figureheads of merchant ships. For now I can offer a danish Lion, made by Just Wiedewelt in the 1740's. He came from Germany,.from the city Schleiz in Saxony, but worked at Kopenhagen for the danish navy. You might know this example. Matthias

Hi Alexandr, the stern-model you can see at the krigsmuseet Kopenhagen, the wooden sculptures can be seen at the mussee de la marine at Brest in France. Here are more photos from Brest - wonderful collection by the way. and the Krigsmuseet at Kopenhagen, The stern-model I am building is at the very left side on the lower shelf. Concerning Erlachhof, I haven't been there. Is that in Austria, or in Germany? I don't know the museum. Matthias

Hi Alexandr, I am going to use the Wax to make carving studies for the sculptures I want to make for my model. The posture of the figures are sometimes very twisted. I am just doing my first carvings, I have not much experimente in finding the proper body posture. I don't want to waste too much wood. The final Version will be boxwood like the other carvings. Here you see, what I mean. This model dates from 1748. The figures are made from wax. By the way, you were talking about the muscle armour of your figurehead. Here are two nice exampley from the Maritime Museum at Brest. Matthias

Hi Alexander, I am talking about easily moldable medium-hard modeling wax. Sculptors use this for the designing process. It is quite stiff, but when you warm it up a bit, or even just warm up your carving tools, you can very essily form it with precise details. You can also make it warm and form it around wire for better stability of arms or weapons etc. I bought myself some of it for designing the sculptures of my model, but did not try it out yet. Matthias

Hello Alexandr, did you ever try carving-wax? That is, what the old artists used back in the 19th and 18th. ctr. Matthias

Hi Alexandr, This reminds me of the figurehead of the french ship of the line IENA from 1846, bearing the figurehead of Napoleon as a victorious Roman emperor. The concept is similar to your approach. Matthias

Hi Alexandr, This is an interesting project. What time was the launching of Azov exactly? There were many maritime painters in Russia during the 19th century. Maybe there is more to find about the appearance of the figurehead. The danish painter Eckersberg painted Azov, but unfortunately from the back. You propably know the painting. Matthias

Hello everyone, I've been doing some carving over the last few days. Spears, swords, lances, muscle armor, helmets, and - a little less martial: acanthus leaves with bellflowers. Here's the current status: Best regards, Matthias

Hi Alexandr , This is the official invitation text: 4th International Ship Model Building Days at the International Maritime Museum Hamburg on 10 and 11 October 2026 We are pleased to announce that the International Ship Model Building Days will be held again next year at the International Maritime Museum Hamburg (IMMH) on 10 and 11 October 2026. The event, which has become a fixture in the museum's calendar, will take place for the fourth time next year. The set-up day is Friday, 9 October 2026. The International Ship Model Building Days are an excellent opportunity for ship model builders of all disciplines to showcase their models and exchange ideas in the historic rooms of the IMMH in Kaispeicher B on Koreastraße, in the heart of Speicherstadt and Hafencity. At the last exhibition in September 2024, around 45 exhibitors from several European countries came together and displayed around 1,000 ship models. Models from all areas of ship model building were on display. The scale ranged from large remote-controlled models up to 3.5 metres in length to tiny works of art made of cardboard, which are only a few centimetres in size when built to a scale of 1:1250. Fantastic dioramas and presentations in a wide variety of scales were also on display. One focus was on 3D printing, which was presented by several exhibitors. This new technology is playing an increasingly important role in ship modelling alongside long-established methods. As in previous years, ship model builders from all over the world are invited to meet in Hamburg in October next year. This includes individuals who wish to participate, as well as model building clubs or associations that want to present their models together. Those wishing to participate should register with the IMMH at A.Reineward@imm-hamburg.de or directly with the exhibition's organising team at f.ilse@t-online.de. The registration should include which model building category – historical ships, cardboard, wood, plastic models or RC-controlled models – is to be displayed. Photos of some models are a good reference point. In addition, the approximate space required should be specified. Exhibitors who would like to give a presentation on specific aspects of ship modelling, their group or the historical aspects of their models are kindly requested to indicate this briefly in their registration form. There is no registration deadline, but please note that very late applications may not be considered as there is limited table space available for the exhibition. Once registration is complete, confirmation of participation will be sent. The organising team will then contact clubs and individuals directly to inform them about the exhibition preparations and keep them up to date. This applies in particular to all details concerning set-up and dismantling as well as the course of the exhibition itself. So if you would like to present your model ships in the extraordinary setting of the International Maritime Museum Hamburg, please get in touch. The IMMH and the organising team look forward to receiving lots of registrations. So far. So you can take part on your own or together with a ship modeling club. I am member of the Arbeitskreis historischer Schiffbau e.V. you might know this club, it has members in all parts of Germany. I participate with a transom model I am currently workingon, it has ornamental and sculptural carvings. Here are some pictures: Matthias

Hi Alexandr , Thank you for your answer and the invitation. You might be interested in the upcoming 4th International Ship Model Building Days at the International Maritime Museum Hamburg on 10 and 11 October 2026. You could consider coming there. I will be there and many other interesting modelshipbuilder from all over the world as well. By the way, do you know the fantastic figureheads at Karlskrona, carved by Johan Törnström in the 18th century? They have got a Mercury there as well. Matthias

Hi Alexandr , A very interesting story! I don't know anything about the Russland navy, so thank you for this introduction. I am looking forward to your next project. Maybe you can show the process? I am making carvings myself, so that would be interesting. Matthias