Whaleboat by Beckmann - FINISHED - RESTORATION - bone model

[Beckmann]

Hello everybody,

I recently got this model of a small boat, entirely made from bone. It is about 35 cm long and completely equipped with a collapsible mast, sails, 6 oars and one long oar for steering, a rudder, harpoons and knifes etc. It is a beautiful work of art. Very nicely crafted. it has some damage and is quite dirty. The stand is made of bone as well and bears the name LUZ.

 

Here are some photos of the model:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a look in the internet and found some similar models in a couple of maritime auctions. On one or two models the name LUZ appeared as well on the stand and it was mentioned, that the guy, who built these models was called Albertino Sousa Luz and that these ships come from the AZORES. Does anybody of you know more about the background of these models? Was there a sort of manufacture for whale-bone-models? Or did the owners of the whalers made them for themselves, like some captains of sailing-ships did in the past?

I would be grateful of some background information. 

Matthias

 

[bruce d]

Matthias, I can't help with the background, just wanted to say you have found a beautiful little model. I am jealous.

 

Seasons best wishes,

Bruce

[druxey]

A lovely little model. Apart from the maker's name, I think that there is perhaps an unconscious joke in there. There is a sect who believe in a literal 'translation' of the living to heaven at the Second Coming . They would be hoisted up by a (fictitious) hook-like bone at the base of their spines called 'the bone of Luz'.

[Beckmann]

After being busy with other projects, I now want to continue with the restoration of the bone model I already showed you back in 2021.

I found a couple of similar models in auctions around the world, several of them made by the same builder Albertino Sousa Luz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In fact, almost all of the models seem to be signed by A.S.Luz.

So it is propably a retired (and very talented) whaler who made them rather then a local tradition.

 

I dismantled my model, becaus it was a dirty mess and started to clean it first with a dry brush and then with a wet ear stick.

 

I am happy to say, that no parts are missing. All of the long oars, the steering oar, the paddles, the rudder, the rowing oarlocks and the hunting tools are still there. Some of them were fixed to the model with rope. I removed these ropes, because they were very dirty and partly unraveled, I will replace them.

 

 

 

Here you can see the harpune rope-drum.

I also cleaned the sails.

The mast-rings are made from plastic and don't look very nice. I will propably replace them by rings made from bone.

 

Matthias

 

 

 

Edited September 27, 2023 by Beckmann

[Beckmann]

Hello Everybody,

 

my little whaleboat-project continues. 

First of all I had to repair a broken thole. I repaired it by replacing the pin with a new one I made from bone.

Here we go...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this litte work, the boat is ready for being rowed by a crew of 6 oarsmen and led by the master on the rudder or the steeringoar.

 

 

 

 

 

I asked my daughter to help me out with a crew, so I can get an imagination of the whole thing in action.

 

 

 

That was fun for the both of us. The model is actually very sturdy. No fragile parts. It has much of a toy, perhaps it once was made to play with? I don't know.

 

I proceeded with the rigging. It is a very simple rig. Once the mast stands upright in his bracket, you only have to fix one shroud to each side and thats it. 

I renewed the mast-rings, becaus they were from plastic and looked very cheap. I made new ones from ivory.

After having washed and ironed the sails, the whol rig came together. A very elegant model, I must say.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthias

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 1, 2023 by Beckmann

[druxey]

Nicely restored, Matthias. Those mast hoops look so much better! The crew are pretty good-looking as well....

[Beckmann]

Thanks druxey, 

here my inspiration for the crew:

nowaday they still build these boats for touristic and sport events. They sail regattas and row them. There are lovely photos on the internet

I am married and we have 5 daughters, so guess, what I am dreaming of...

 

Matthias

 

 

 

That

[ccoyle]

The finished product looks very nice!