Model of a Mainmast with Turnbuckles and Pinion Jack c. 1825 - 1840

This detailed mainmast model was created by Petrus van der Loo sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The Dutch were a major maritime power at this time, and this model gives a glimpse into the complex labor and technologies involved in seafaring. The artist, Van der Loo, lived during a period of intense colonial activity, and this ship would have been used for trade and transport. It represents a cultural symbol of Dutch national identity and economic power, built on the backs of both paid and enslaved laborers. Consider the relationship between the ship's design and the lives of the sailors who operated it. The rigging, the mast, and the sails all speak to a world of human ingenuity and physical hardship, as well as to an era of profound global transformation. This model is a reminder of the complex stories that underpin seemingly simple objects.