New-York tribune., 1900-09-02
ANTIQUE "NEFS."
SILVER MODELS OF SHIPS OF FORMER
DAYS-THE DUKE OF SAXE-COBURG'S
UNIQUE COLLECTION
suffice.
n. z. K.
From The London Telegraph.


From The London Telegraph
Among the artistic hobbies which have been
taken up warmly by various members OF the
royal family none was perhaps more interest
ing than that IF the late Duke of Saxe-C -COburg in
the collection Of antique nefs, models Of ships
in silver. Concerning these his Royal Highness
was both enthusiast and an expert and the
specimens he amassed, numbering just upon
forty include some of the finest ever turned out
by sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth
tUry godsmiths. In artistic circles at the present
time much surmise exists TO the ultimate
destination Of the unique and intrinscaIly eX-
tremely valuable collection. and it is suggested
that it would form appropriate memorial OF
one held IN such deep respect throughout the
navy if they could be acquired fer the nation.
The Duchess Marie doubtless knows what was
the wish of the late Duke on the subject since
the lamented death of their SON but il may be
pointed out that in form of artistic handi-
craft are our great public treasure houses SO
poorly furnished with these There is
ample at all in the British Museum South Ken
sin 5tCn is little better off while in the Wallace
collection, at Hertford House. so bOundessly
rich IN almost every conceivable object of beau
~ not one is TO be seen Yet in the old
days such models were frequent gifts between
royal personageS, their professed purpose being
a table ornament 10 contain wine. In every in
stance they were constructed with the greatest
care and accuracy, and possess, therefore the
additional historic value of Illustrating correctly
the lines and rig of the fighting ships and mer-
chantmen which carried Those dogs of an elder
day, who sacked the golden ports
The Duke lent the collection to be shown, il
may be renem bered, at the Royal Naval EXhi-
the most notable features Of the Loan Art Sec
tion. All displayed were admirable examples OF
Old French, Old Dutch, Nuremburg, or Augs-
burg craftsmanship, and were embelliShed with
an immense amount Of fascinating detail One
of the largest of the seventeenth century was
the model of the three masted Feiicitas made
NurembUrg, entirely in parcel gilt. She is
shown under full sail. with fighting tops in the
masts. and the hull is beautifully chased with
triumphal procession Of Neptune and the sea-
gods A somewhat smaller enc. made at the
same town. has only two masts, but has a large
two story covered deck house Grouped upon
her soldiers, sailors. men and w0men, and
she carries guns both on deck and at the port
holes one Of the French specimens bears the
name AmlCltla, and has a covered deck with two
houses and Cne large cannon, while she carries
officers and women, men and sailors. Her flags
are fiving and upon the sails various crests and
devices are engraved \ pair Of Dutch
amDIes three masted open decked ships
under fun sail, with the crew and several SOL
GieTs and some mOrtars and round shot The
hulls are chased with mermaids, and there are
finely outlined heads and busts Of sea monsters
at the bows, one from Augsburg has twelve
guns at tFe pcrthoiss, the mead oI Fdn at the
bows and flag at the stern The hull is chased
with sea nymphs, and bears the inscription,
"ClyJus Rex OCeanus.' In this one there are
sailors in the IigEing. Those who knew the late
Dukes admiration for these rarities were always
glad to tell him Of any TO he seen or bought and
the brethren Of the Trinity House. wishing TO
commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary Of
his connection with that famous corporation.
presented him with one that he especially priced
NurembUrg in 1850 representing trader one
portrayed a fight between Vasco de Cana and
black braves. In almost all the silver silver
gilt hulls stand upon two pairs Of little wheels,
so that they may be conveyed easily along the
table from guest to guest to fulfil their original
purpose.
1t would be interesting bypath in the fields
of the silveTsmith's handiCraft to discover when
these quantity delightful toys passed out OF
favor. Very small specimens Of boats and sail
ing ships may occasionally be seen at the we'll
accredited dealers in old plate. and generally
quickly acquired by discerning for their
silver tables.' But these large nefs
suredly very scarce. and must at all times have
been extremely costly. The two most celebrated
modern models in silver are, of course the
beautiful pair representing the Britannia and
Royal Navy and Marines to the Queen on the
occasion of her Jubilee in 1897. For the repre-
SentatiOn of the noble Aattleship, sadly lost
few years later. d set OF exact drawings to scale
were prepared. and the fineness of the work in
this may be judged from the fact that each gun
OF her NOrdenfeldt armament. with its carriage
be stood upon form. and weighs half an
ounce, though il contains no fewer than one
hundred and eighteen pieces; and in the Britain
mia the rigging and other details are indicated
with equal deICaCy Some few owners Of sue
cessful racing yachts have had them reproduced
as miniatures in silver. but the idea IS by no
cidental inquiries it appears however that the
has brought into fashionable favor the
naval field gun in silver the adjunct of the
smoking table contain cigars or Gig
aTettes, and these faultieSSly correct in
/ their propOrtionate adherence &c the original
! lines