Scale: 1:32. A contemporary full hull model of the sailing merchant brig ‘Mnemosyne’ (1870), mounted on its original wooden display crutches. The copper-sheathed hull is complete with a female half bust figurehead on the bow, while on deck are various fittings including a large deckhouse, winches and windlasses, steering wheel and skylights for the after cabin.

Although it has not been possible to positively identify this model against a known vessel of this name, the length at this scale would be 87 feet by 21 feet in the beam and an approximate tonnage of 125 gross. The name is from the Greek word for ‘memory’, and it is slightly strange as to why a vessel of this type would be named as such.

During the 19th century, thousands of these merchant brigs were in use carrying various cargoes and passengers all over the world. It was not until the 1880s – by which time steamship had started to overcome the problem of using a reliable and economic steam engine capable of long ocean voyages – that these vessels were under threat commercially. Towards the late-19th century, these vessels were gradually replaced by brigantines and topsail schooners which were much more flexible and economically viable ship types.