Folk Columbia Rediviva Ship Diorama

Second half 19th century, entirely wood boat, including the sails, featuring thread and wire rigging, with some of the rigging painted onto the sky, plank on frame hull, 13 star flag made of embroidered canvas, carved wood ocean, the frame with dovetailed joinery, under later but old glass and front wood frame; appears unsigned. 19 x 30 x 5 in. The Columbia (known also as the Columbia Rediviva) was a historic American merchant ship that completed the first circumnavigation of the globe in 1790 under Captain Robert Gray. It was an 83 foot long three-masted sailing ship, manned by 16-31 crew members, and could carry over 200 tons of cargo. It was eventually decommissioned and salvaged in 1806, meaning the ship was never photographed. Dioramas, therefore, relied solely on drawings and historical logs. All internal diorama pieces appear to be of cohesive age; some detached rigging; loss to center flag; paint flaking and crack to bottom side of frame; later but old glass and front frame to original back, glass pane shows faint and attractive age via wavy distortion when viewed at an angle.

Estimate:$200

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