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A shipyard model of the liner Nippon Moru, dated 1898

Offered by: Wick Antiques LTD

Description
A shipyard model of the liner Nippon Moru, dated 1898. This shipbuilder’s model has a pink hull, black topsides and two black funnels. It is executed in meticulous detail with two cabin areas with white roofs, six lifeboats on davits, brass railings, a bowsprit and the name Nippon Moru in gilt on the bow. The whole is raised on four turned brass supports and set in a mahogany and glass case, on a later separate mahogany stand. English, 1898.

Footnote: There were three ships with the Maru suffix, Nippon, America and Hong Kong, all were completed in 1898. Asano Sōichirō (1848-1930), was a Japanese businessman responsible for founding a number of companies, including what became today’s Sapporo Breweries, Toa Construction Corporation, Oki Electric Industry and Taiheiyo Cement (formerly Asano Cement). He decided he wanted a shipping company too. Up until this time, Japanese shipping companies concentrated on local traffic with China. However, he intended to compete for trade to North America, India and Europe. He founded Tōyō Kisen in July 1896 and ordered three vessels which had to have the clean, sharp lines of clipper ships, from the Wigham Richardson shipyards, Newcastle upon Tyne.

More Information

Origin:	England
Period:	19th Century
Materials:	Mahogany, Brass
Condition:	Good.
Creation Date:	1898
Styles / Movements:	Traditional
Incollect Reference #:	736520

Dimensions

W.	52 in;	H.	49.5 in;	D.	12.5 in;
W.	132.08 cm;	H.	125.73 cm;	D.	31.75 cm;

Message from Seller:

Wick Antiques was established by Charles Wallrock in the early 1980s. Having grown up in the Antiques world Charles developed an extensive wealth of knowledge. Starting out as a ‘man with a van’ he quickly gained a good reputation and embarked on a longstanding relationship with Harrods. He was later joined by his wife, Caroline Wallrock. Caroline having completed a Persian degree, went on to study at Christie’s fine art and then joined Sotheby’s specializing in Islamic and Japanese works of art