BOSTON (PRWEB) – A master craftsman who immigrated to the United States from Norway in 1912, Peter Henrick Ness (1890-1976), built ship models from scratch. His rich seafaring family history helped to create a ship’s blueprint in his mind’s eye. A collection of his models will be sold at Boston Harbor Auctions’ Spring Ship Model and Nautical Antique Sale on April 30.
Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.
Ness is the endeared dean of ship model making. He fabricated his models in a manner that is reminiscent of exactly how these ships were built. Ness made the models as if they were mini ships. They were heavier and bulkier. Ness hand-forged his own brass fittings such as the anchors, bells and wheels.
Ness specialized in ships built by Boston shipbuilder Donald McKay (1810-1880). McKay built the clipper Sovereign of the Seas (above), which, in 1854, posted the fastest speed ever by a sailing ship – 22 knots.
Many of Ness’ models are in fixed exhibits inside the Smithsonian, Boston’s Museum of Science and a whaler he built was displayed in the White House during the Roosevelt administration.
Boston Harbor Auctions has procured a collection of Peter Ness ship models that will be auctioned at the Lannan Gallery in Boston on April 30.
The ship models include a gorgeous replica of Old Ironsides; the most famous American Navy ship, the USS Constitution, which docked in Charlestown across Boston Harbor from Ness’ home in East Boston. This entire model (below) is built of varnished and carved hardwood with hand-forged brasses.
The Sovereign of the Seas model shows exquisite detail in her unabbreviated and complex rigging cords and clove-hitched ratlines.
These models will be sold with a deeper collection of 53 amazing ship models, a 19th century figurehead from a ship, diving helmets and an astonishing array of gleaming polished nautical antiques and lighting.
