New-York tribune., 1908-03-30
NEFs OF THE KAISER AND KING.

Emperor William has taken with him to Corfu
his nef, which many insist that he considers
in the light OF mascot. seeing that ii accompanies
him all his journeys, occupying conspicuous
place the dinner table of his yacht. of his rail-
road carriage of any Of his villas. shooting
boxes palaces where he may happen be
staying The nef in question is the silver model
Of the three-nasted warship Felicitas made
Nuremberg in the seventeenth century. She Is
shown under full sail, with fighting tops tho
rnasts and the hull is beautifully chased with q
triumphant procession of Neptunes and gods.
Grouped upon her deck tiny soldiers, sailors.
men and women and she carries guns, both
deck and the portfolios. Her flags flying.
and upon the sails various crests and heraldic de-
vices engraved.
Edward VII has not only seventeenth century
nef ot almost identical fashion and OF Nurem-
berg origin, but a whole feet OF these ships. the
collection. very large one, having been formed
in the main by his sailor brother, the late Duke
Alfred of Edinburgh, who died ruler of The
duchy Of Coburg. and from whose Russian widow
the King purchased the collection The latter rep
resents various periods and styles of naval archi
lecture but the majority Of the nefs. and. it
nav be added, the most valuable ones. n
-ioue In oden DAYS gold, silver or silver gilt
nefs were favoTite form OF gift between royal
personages; and while they were often made TO
contain wine get they were constructed with the
utmost care and accuracy and possess. therefore.
the original historic value of representing correctly
The lines and the rig fighting ships
merchantmen which carried those dogs of older
dav who sacked the golden ports.
King Edwards collection numbers considerably
over one hundred refs and among the mod
ern ones are silver models of the Britannia, the
training ship on which the present Prince of Wales
received his naval education. while another repre-
sents that superb battleship the Victoria, which
fohndered of the coast of syria. with her crew Of
oye- six hundred and officers, carrying with
her 10 the bottom admiral whose extraordinary
command resulting. it is believed. from moment
of sudden and temporary alteration. had brought
about the collision that caused the disaster. So
exouisitely is the model Of the Victoria made ana
so absolutely 10 scale that every block every
,ard and every gun has been reproduced in silver
uith the most scrupulous exactitude, each gun OF
the vessels Nordenfeldt armament being OF size
that will enable IT, with its carriage 10 be stood ON
a J0-cent piece
This silver feet is OF King Edwards hob
ias as il was that of his brother. the late Prince
Alfred and as all his friends and relatives know
this they make point of securing those that come
80, the market. They occasionally figure on the
UE,,gss dinner table, especially when he entertains
naval guests and the last occasion OF an
American squadron officially visiting England-it
.-.S under Admiral Jewcll-king Edward gave
,,rheop for the latter. and for the principal ON
oers al Eucking ham Palace, at Hhich nuihpef Vi
those r1efs were used in lieu Of centrepieces-
: ., ma add that antique nefs are so rare that
there are none to be found in the britlsh Museum'
,ha South Kensington Museum In London or IN
- : o,,,,ra or C1uny Museum, in Paris Indeed 1t
=, .,a,r extraordinary rarity that renders these
,,,asterpi.ces of gold and silver smiths Art Oh
- ,v,a.ntb seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
50 extremely valuable
crp.NGE FRATERNITY OF GREAT MOBILES
rn,nr... Euxenies EIsndneDhew, the Duke ee