New here: Anyone recognize these models?

[Patrick P]

Hi, my wife bought these two models from a furniture store that was closing. There is no information about the maker, anyone recognize them?

 

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this question

 

Thanks,

Patrick

[allanyed]

Hi Patrick,

The first one resembles an older J class or similar racing yacht.  I may be way off base on this, but I am sure there are members here that can give better information..   The second one is identified as the Bluenose, but if you do some research on her you will see the overall shape, deck housings and furniture look different than the actual Bluenose.  Still, both look to be rather nice decorator pieces for your home.   You may want to consider putting them in cases to keep off the dust and keep them away from any direct sunlight if you want them to last.

Allan

Edited July 29, 2023 by allanyed

[gsdpic]

Note that the description of the "Bluenose" muddles the original vs the replica.  The Bluenose was the original fishing schooner as described on that paper.  Bluenose II is a replica that was built later.  The sail layout on this "bluenose II" model also looks a bit odd.   There's plenty of info about the Bluenose/Bluenose II out there, for example on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluenose

 

I agree with Allan that the first is reminiscent of a J class racing yacht.  

[Patrick P]

Thank you for your feedback. I am also hoping to find out the manufacturer/maker. They seem to be very well made but curious as to why there is no maker's mark or at least label.

 

Thanks again.

 

Patrick

[allanyed]

I may be totally incorrect about your particular pieces but they look like mass produced decorator models, many of which are made in Asia.     https://gonautical.com/america-s-cup-sailboat-models/2484-1930-s-shamrock-v-america-s-cup-j-class-sailboat-model-large-open-hull.html  and https://www.everythingnautical.com/shamrock-open-hull-model-ship-46-optional-personalized-plaque/   for examples.   If you contact these suppliers they may be able to give you more details on location of the factory where they are made.  Yours look to be much nicer than many of the old European decorator pieces made in the mid 20th century that we see posted here at MSW pretty often.

Allan

Edited July 31, 2023 by allanyed

[Jaager]

It was a long while ago, but I a photo of an open sided assembly line decorator model production in Vietnam.

The think the formula is:  a country with a skilled, but under utilized work force, willing to work for much less than their skills are worth because their economy is temporarily stuck on a sandbar.   When the economy recovers or has its initial bloom, this sort of operation probably has to reappear in the next country with the proper factors.

There used to be something named Starving Artists - a large room with a lot of people, each behind their own easel, all copying a master painting projected at the front of the room.    I imagine something similar for mass produced decorator models.  I do not imagine someone just looking to earn enough for their next hit could be a satisfactory worker.

 

Your two have something extra - the designer had an eye for elegant design, the lines have artistic curves.  The wood is not pallet quality crap. It looks like Acer, or Beech or Birch.

 

They are not actually ship models as we would define them here. They are simulacrum of ship models.  Tasteful background decoration.

[Bob Cleek]

I can't say whether these models were made in Singapore, Vietnam, or Mauritius or not, but they are the sort of product that small ship model factories in countries with developing economies are now turning out for the mass export. Singapore and Vietnam seem to have well-established ship model building industries. Mauritius has been the most prolific exporter of ship models since the last quarter of the 20th Century. Selling ship models for export is apparently a significant segment of the economy of this tiny island nation. Their product quality range runs from the almost crude to the very well-done. It's quite fascinating to see how they build these models on an assembly line basis. It's even more amazing that they can turn a profit doing so! Certainly, the people working in these small factories can't be making much at all. I expect much of the profit goes to the middle men who import the product and resell it around the world, but still and all, the Mauritians must be making enough building them for it to be worth their while to do so.

 

Check out these websites. While we will all lament that we often can't even give away our completed models, there's a whole industry out there selling ship models to an apparently viable customer base. 

 

See: http://customwoodhandicrafts.com/custom-wood-model-ships/ 

       https://hoiancraftships.com/ 

       https://silhoutech.com/

       http://aemodels.com/AE-MODELS-TEAM-PTE-LTD.-Services-Ship-Rig-Models-Rig-model-supplier-Singapore-Model-makers-in-Singapore

       https://bobatoshipmodels.com/ 

       https://historic-marine.com/ 

       https://le-port-ship-model-factory-and-showroom.business.site/ 

       https://mautourco.com/model-ship-building-works-of-art/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/business-43432017

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by Bob Cleek

[Patrick P]

thanks so much for the replies and information guys!!!

 

 

just to add, the furniture store is based in Australia so it certainly seems likely that these were sourced from Asia.

 

Thanks again

Edited August 9, 2023 by Patrick P