Half Model of a 14-Gun Brig c. 1783

This elegant half-model of a 14-Gun Brig was made anonymously, using carved wood and mounted on a painted board. This model is not simply a representation, but also a technical drawing in three dimensions. It shows the ideal shape of the hull, intended to slice through the water with maximum efficiency. Naval architects traditionally used these models to finalize their designs and communicate them to shipbuilders. The half-model would be disassembled, and its individual planks used as templates for the real thing. So, each smooth curve embodies the knowledge and experience of the maker, but also the labor of unseen hands who would have translated this design into a full-scale warship. This object gives us a peek into a world where craft and industry were intimately linked, each dependent on the other. It reminds us that even the most functional objects can be appreciated for their aesthetic qualities and the skill involved in their creation.