The evening times., 1900-09-19
Ships OF FORMER DAYS
Silver Models Of Vessels Of An
cieHt Periods.
niGue Collection Possessed by the
Late Duke of Saxe-Coburss-De-
Between Royal persouaS e~-G'res-
ents to Victoria On Her Jubilee.

Among the artistic hobbies which have
been taken up warmly by various nem-
bers OF the royal family none was, per
haps. more interesting than that of the
late Duke OF Saxe-Coburg in the coIIec-
tion af antique nefs, or models of ships
in silver. Concerning these His Royal
Highness was both an 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 century
goldsmiths- IN artistic circles at the
present time much surmise exists as to
the ultimate destination of the unique
and intrinsicaIlv extremely valuable col
lection, and it is suggested that it would
form an appropriate memorial of che
held in such deep respect throughout the
navy if they could be acquired for 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 it may be pointt d
out that in no form of artistic handicraft
are our great public treasure houses so
poorly furnished as with these. There
is no example at all in the British Mu-
scum; South Kensington is little better
off, while in the Wallace collection, at
Hertford House. so boundlessIy rich in
almost every conceivable object of beau
ty, not one is TO he seen. Yet in the old
days such models were frequent gifts be
tween royal peFsonages, their professed
purpose being a table ornament to con-
tain wine. in every instance they were
constructed with the greatest care and
accuracy, and possess, therefore, the
additional historic value of ilustra ting
correctly the lines and rig OF the fighting
ships and merchantmen which carried
Those dogs of an elder day, who sacked
the golden ports.'
The Duke lent the collection to be
shown, it may be remembered, at the
Royal Naval Exhibition of 1891 where
they constituted one of the most notable
features of the Loan Art Section. All dis
played were admirable examples of Old
French, old Dutch, Nuremburg, or Augs-
burg craftsmanship, and were embellished
with an immense amount of fascinatins
detail. One of the largest Of the seven
teeuth century was the model of the three
maSted FelicitaS, made at Nuremburg en-
tirely III parcel gilt. She is shown under
full sail, with fighting tops in the masts.
and the hull is beautifully chased with a
triumphal procession of Neptune and the
sea gods. A somewhat smaller one, made at
has a large two-story covered deck house
Grouped unon her are soldiers, sailors
men, and women, and she carries guns
both on deck and at the portfolios One of
the French specimens bears the mama
Amicitia, and has a covered deck with two
houses and one large cannon, while she
carries officers and women. men. and sail
ors. Her flags aic flying. and upon the
sails various crests and devices are en-
grave9. A pair OF Dutch examples are
three-masted open decked ships under full
sail, with the crew and several soldiers
and some meTtars and round shot TIE
hulis are chased with mermaids and there
are finely outlined heads and busts OF sea
monsters at the bows. One from Augs-
burg has twelve guns at the portfolios, the
head of Pan at the bows, and a flag at the
stern. The hull is chased with sea nymphs
and bears the inscription, "CIytus Rex
Oeeanus.'
In this one there are sailors in the rig
ging Those who knew the late Dukes
admiration for these rarities were always
glad to tell him of any to be seen or
bought, and the brethren of the Trinity
House. wishing TO commemorate the
twenty-fifth anniversary of his connection