Model, of Star of India

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This wooden model is of the 'Star of India' a four-masted barque dating from 1861. A barque was a three to five-masted square-rigged vessel, the most popular rig for a medium-sized merchant ship. The model was built to a scale of 1:96 by Mr R Paterson of Lasswade in Midlothian.

The model shows the sails set - with fore-and-aft rigging on the aftermost mast and square rigging on the remainder. False gunports are painted on the ship's hull. Unusually, the model's sails are made of sheet metal.

Built by Stephens of Dundee, the 'Star of India' was originally designed for first-class passenger traffic between London, Calcutta and New Zealand. She was later converted to timber carrying and re-rigged as a barque with an extra fore-and-aft rigged mast. She was abandoned in mid-Atlantic in 1892.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-002-035-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1926.22
• Date: Model: 20th century; Original: 1861
  
• Material: Ship / barque / model
  
• Dimensions: 19.50" H x 32.50" L x 8.00" W; 35.00" L x 8.50" W (sea)
  
• What: Ship / barque / model
  
• Subject: 23. SHIPPING, Sailing Ships, post 1760 (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Joseph Soames, London (Owner of original)
  Star of India (ship)
  Stephen's Yard, Dundee (Builders of original)
  
• Where:
• Event:
• Description: Waterline model of the four-masted barque Star of India, with sails made of sheet steel, scale 1:96
  
• References:
  • Storer, J D. Ship Models in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh: A catalogue of models representing the history of shipping from 1500 BC to the present day. Edinburgh: Royal Scottish Museum Information Series, 1985, p 28. 
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