Model, of British 80-gun warship HMS Centaur

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This bone model was constructed by French prisoners-of-war held in the prison at Norman's Cross, near Peterborough in Cambridgeshire in about 1797. It is said to represent 'HMS Centaur' a British 80-gun warship that fought in the West Indies during Nelson's regime.

The model is built to a scale of 1:150. The hull is elaborately carved and the rigging is very detailed.

During the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815), many French prisoners were taken to British gaols or prison ships. Some were allowed to settle into local communities and those who were skilled in crafts began to make ship models which could be sold. The models were often built using dried, bleached meat bones. Wood, ivory, straw and human hair were also used. The prisoners had to rely upon memory which makes the scale of some of the models rather doubtful.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-002-101-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.1940.10
• Date: c. 1797
  Model & original: Around 1797
  
• Material: Bone
  Warship / model
  
• Dimensions: 21.00" L
  
• What: Warship / model
  
• Subject: 23. SHIPPING, Sailing Ships, post 1760 (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: H.M.S. Centaur
  
• Where: England, Northamptonshire, Peterborough
  
• Event: Napoleonic Wars
  
• Description: Model of full-rigged warship in bone made by French prisoners of war, said to represent H.M.S. Centaur and to have been made at Norman's Cross, Peterborough, c. 1797
  
• 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 24. 
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