Seeking help to identify this ship only

[Pisces-Dreamer]

Hi, I have just inherited this ship, which my Dad is restoring for my son. I'm wondering if anyone can identify it. I'm not looking for a price, or anything except what ship it is modelled on.  It is very old, and I suspect the sails are pigskin. Your thoughts are appreciated.  Thank you.

[mtaylor]

It's basically a decorative model.  Thousands of these were made from around 1930 to well into the 1960's.  So there really isn't a "name" as such so you are free to name it anything you like.

[Pisces-Dreamer]

Thank you. Appreciate your reply.

[druxey]

The sails are more likely to be of parchment paper. These 'galleons' were very popular decorative items after the First World War.

[Roger Pellett]

If this helps the ship type is called a Galleon.  This was a major type of ship used between about 1550 and 1650.  It was armed with cannons and could be used both as a warship and to transport valuable cargos.  These ships were used by the Spanish to transport the vast wealth from their American Colonies and both sides used galleons in the battles of the Spanish Armada.  Galleons rate high in public imagination so many models of them have been built.

 

I agree that your particular model is what we would call a decorator quality model.  It is not built to any particular scale, and is only an approximation of what current scholarship believes the real thing looks like.

 

Ship modeling can be a lifetime hobby and this might be the perfect opportunity for your son and his grandfather to do something together.  I would suggest that you get your son a book or two about Galleons, the Spanish Armada, etc. so he gains an appreciation of the history behind the model.

 

Roger