Old sailors were loath to give away their
secrets, though. The method of making ships in bottles
dates back to the 19th century when clear glass bottles
were introduced. Sailors liked modeling, and making small
models and ships in bottles did not take up space. Ship's
space was at a premium and sailors stored their gear and
clothing in a ship's chest, which did not hold much more
than an average large suitcase.
 |
The oldest existing Ships-in-the-Bottle
were made around 1760. These are intricate professional
pieces. Apparently, they were made from commercial
workshops specializing in the construction of ship
models to serve as gifts for kings, admirals, and
other important people. |
Dating back to 1850, Ships-in-the-Bottle
were constructed by sailors on board the tall ships. At
this time beverage bottles were made from clear glass
and became available to the public. After a sailor had
finished his favorite drink, possibly on a wide, calm
sea, the empty bottle in front of him served as inspiration.
Since the tools and materials available on board were
limited, the first examples of maritime craft are of a
rather crude and simple design. These old models, however,
exude a special and unique charm in spite, or just because,
of their simplicity.
Often the sailors chose to copy their
own ship and, if in a harbor, also the scene around them
was placed in the background. In this way, these models
became sources of contemporary history.
