Wool embroidery showing a sailing warship in profile, with a narrow hull and eleven gunports, wearing the White Ensign and a commissioning pennant. The sails are padded and the rigging is made of cotton thread. The guns are each indicated by two small beads sewn to the ships hull. It is mounted in its original maple frame. The embroidery was made by donor's uncle Staff-Sergeant David Joseph Mead (1850-1941), who served in the Royal Marines from 1862 to 1888. The embroidery was produced during his retirement and is loosely based on his old ship HMS 'Challenger' 1858 (wood steam corvette). Mead served on 'Challenger' 1866-71 when she was the flagship on the Australia station immediately prior to her famous surveying voyage 1872-76.