A stunning and monumental model from the early 18th century of a 100 gun first rate ship of the line whose name was lost for 200 years has been conserved in preparation for it being exhibited.
‘Britannia’, made from pine and fruitwoods then gilded, is a ‘pull-apart’ model, the rarest type, of which only five others are known in the world. It allows the model to be taken apart so its inner timbers can be seen – like a doll’s house.
Originally launched in 1682, Britannia was rebuilt for King George I in 1715 by John Hayward, the shipwright at Woolwich Dockyard, who was also responsible for making the model made at the same time.
Martyn Downer, a dealer from near Cambridge who specialises in rare and historic works of art, and who has made a series of sensational discoveries, bought the model during lockdown. He has since had hundreds of years of overpaint and varnish removed from it, revealing its true magnificence.
Britannia was the only first rate ship of the time and carried the flag of Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Norris who was depicted alongside the ship in a portrait recently purchased by the same expert. Valued at almost £1m, painting and model have been on show together for the first time at The Treasure House Fair in London.
Martyn said: “After tracing the model’s ownership in the 18th century, it disappeared until 1940 when it was given by Viscount Runciman to the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights. By then its name had been lost and the Company loaned it to The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich where it was on display until 2021. Experts there matched the model with the original plans of Britannia and now it has been cleaned it can be seen in its true glory.
“Britannia was rebuilt before the Admiralty fully implemented rules to tone down ship decoration, so the ship and its model displayed highly decorative gilded carvings. They show figures representing King George I, for whom the model was made, sitting in majesty between Asclepius and Justitia with his feet resting on a merman. Decorations include representations of the Order of the Garter with circular port wreaths on the quarterdeck and elaborate carvings on the stern and gunwhale. The model is a magnificent work of art in itself, and was created as such, and is one of only five known – each made under the direction of John Hayward at his workshop in Woolwich.
“The ship was originally built by Phineas Pett II at Chatham in 1682 and was at the Battle of Barfleur which halted a French attempt to restore James II to the throne. After the ship’s rebuild in 1715, which cost just under £30,000 including the cost of the model, it carried the flag for Admiral Sir John Norris and was sent to the Tagus to protect Portugal. Britannia was later used as a hospital ship before being broken up in 1750 and was slowly forgotten about. And that is why the identity of its model was lost for so long.
“Models of this type have always been cherished and treasured by collectors like Samuel Pepys as great works of art, and to see the magnificent model of Britannia back to its best is wonderful. It is a time machine to Britain’s maritime past and to find a portrait of Admiral Norris with the ship in the background brings a face to the story.”
