Model of an Optical Telegraph for Ships 1835

This is a model of an optical telegraph, probably made of wood and metal, by Engelbert Lucas. The smooth, light grain of the wood gives this miniature semaphore an appealing, even delicate, quality. But don’t be fooled. Though small in scale, the object speaks of naval power, global trade, and complex networks of information. It is a scaled down version of a device intended to relay messages – vital for commercial and political control across long distances. Note the careful joinery, the turned base, and the tiny metal details that allow the arms to move. The making of the model would have required patience and skill, especially if Lucas made it himself to demonstrate how the larger version worked. The wooden construction keeps the model simple. By focusing on the materiality and making of this object, we can consider how the practical concerns of maritime communication intersected with craft traditions. This allows us to understand it not just as a technical instrument, but as a cultural artifact embedded with layers of meaning.