100-gun Votive Ship

Contemporary model, c 1720

This highly detailed model is typical of a Votive or Church Ship model. Such models were often hung in the Christian churches of Baltic, Dutch and French ports between the 16th and 18th centuries. They were offered in thanks for the safe end to a sea voyage or a successful career at sea. Many examples still survive, but there are relatively few in Britain.

The hull of this model is original, but the rigging is new. The workmanship is not to a very high standard and, as with other 'sailor-made' models, it is true to type rather than scale (which is about 1:48). The model is brightly painted to attract attention in the dim light of a church. For the same reason the size of the guns has been exaggerated. She may be of either French or Dutch origin and represents a first-rate line-of-battle ship of the period.

This model is part of the permanent collection of the Merseyside Maritime Museum, and is not currently on display.

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