Amber (1888); Service vessel; Cableship

Scale: Unknown. A half block model of the Amber (1888) made largely of wood with silver plated and gun metal fittings. The hull is painted pink below the waterline and has black topsides above to deck level. The clipper shaped bow is fitted with a large set of sheaves on an overhanging platform whilst the stern finishes in a rounded counter with a single screw propeller and a rudder with a skeg frame below. Mounted along the black portion of the hull is a decorative name board at the bow carved in wood together with a set of draught marks on the stem below. Along the hull are 41 circular portholes. At the stern is a decorative gallery and taff rail carved in wood. The deck is varnished natural wood with individual planks lined in black ink. At the bow is an anchor, a capstan, davits and winches. Either side of the mainmast are a number of cargo hatches and rectangular skylights. Forward of the bridge there is a varied selection of ventilator cowlings finished in natural wood and painted red internally. There is also a square transom sterned lifeboat mounted on a pair of silver plated davits. The bridge accommodation block consists of a single tier bridge wing with guard rails, a binnacle, a ship's wheel, and navigation lights. Just aft of the bridge and forward of the raking funnel is a large double ended lifeboat secured to the boat deck and rigged in a silver plated pair of davits. There is also a large ventilator cowling, a steam pipe, a mizzen mast and the funnel, all of which are finished in natural varnished wood. Immediately aft of the funnel is a silver plated steam winch mounted on a raised deck together with a long rectangular skylight. The aft deck has a number of ventilator cowlings, bollards, and fairleads together with two companionway entrances to the accommodation below. Alongside the skylight is a small transom sterned lifeboat rigged in a pair of davits. The ship's wheel is mounted on a rectangular steering box with a raised grating floor either side and a single binnacle just forward of the steering position. The whole model is mounted on a rear silvered mirror down to the waterline with a birds eye maple panel below the waterline to the base of the case. There is a pair of angled mirrors at either end and a glass plaque secured to the base. The whole model is mounted in a glazed mahogany display case which has a decorative rope carving along the top and two ornately carved pillars at either end which are mounted on a rounded and bevelled front section. The plaque is inscribed: 'R Napier & Sons 1888 "Amber" 1035 Tons 1560 IHP'.

Object Details

ID: SLR1184
Collection: Ship models
Type: Half block model; Mirror-backed model
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Vessels: Amber (1888)
Date made: circa 1888
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall model and case: 566 x 1768 x 214 mm