from Venice

Model, of gondola

This wooden model of a Venetian gondola from 1879 was made by an official of the Arsenal of Venice. It is built to a scale of 1:12.

A gondola like this would have carried from two to four persons. The iron prow or 'ferro' at the bow was made of iron to counterbalance the weight of the oarsman or gondolier at the stern. The 'ferro' was also used as a yardstick to judge the height of Venice's low bridges.

Gondolas are mentioned in writings as early as 1094. Until 1562 they were noted for their bright colours and gilding but after that date, only gondolas of state were allowed to be brightly coloured. Passenger-carrying gondolas were restricted to having black exteriors.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-180-002-060-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0504: National Museums Scotland Part 2 Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland T.1879.27
Date:	1879 Model & original: 1879
Material:
Dimensions:
What:	Gondola / model
Subject:	23. SHIPPING, Native Craft (Departmental Classification)
Who:	Official at the Arsenal, Venice, Venice, Italy (Model maker)
Where:	Italy, Venice Italy, Venice
Event:
Description:	Model of a Venetian gondola made in Venice by an official of the Arsenal, 1879, to a scale of one in eleven
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 79.
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