Old Modern Handicrafts – T133, Lady Washington Ship Model, 25 X 5.5 X 26 Inches – Multicolored

This is a high quality FULLY ASSEMBLED model of the original 90-ton merchant sloop Lady Washington that became the first American vessel to reach Japan in an unsuccessful attempt to move some unsold pelts.

Master craftsmen using historical photographs, drawings or original plans meticulously handcraft these highly detailed wood models from scratch. They are built to scale with high-grade wood such as: western red cedar, rosewood, and mahogany. They are 100% hand built individually using plank-on-frame construction method and are similar to the building of actual ships. Each model requires hundreds of hours to finish and must go through a demanding quality control process before leaving the workshop.

This beautiful Lady Washington model features plank on frame and two decks. The front bowsprit and two large masts are connected securely using advanced rigging and lines painstakingly knotted and fastened by hand. Each yard has an attached hand-stitched unfurled sails made of fine linen. Metal anchors and a wooden rudder with metal propeller are visible on the front and rear of the ship. On the deck, there are authentic hand-built lifeboat with ribs and planks, wooden cabin, wooden crane and many other spectacular ornaments.

This model comes standard with a solid wood base and brass nameplate. It’ll make a perfect gift for home or office decorator, boat enthusiast or passionate collector.

History:

The original Lady Washington was a 90 ton merchant sloop that participated in the fur and pelt trade with the coastal Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest as well as tea and porcelain across the Pacific in China. She was the first American vessel to sail around Cape Horn as well as the first American vessel to reach Japan. Lady Washington was originally captained by Robert Gray and then later John Kendrick, where she was refitted as a brig. She became the first American vessel to reach the island of Japan in an unsuccessful attempt to move some unsold pelts. The Lady remained in the Pacific trade and eventually foundered in the Philippines in 1798. Today, a replica of Lady Washington was built for the 1989 Washington State Centennial celebrations and sails along the Pacific Coast, providing tours to educate students of the lifestyle and history of merchant trading.