This highly detailed builders dockyard model is not only one of the finest examples we have seen, but it also has an unbroken provenance directly from the ship's designer for whom this model would have been made.
Joe has had this model in his collection for more than 30 years. He purchased it directly from the family of J. Thompson, the yacht's architect and designer. Interestingly, this original builders dockyard model never left the wall of Thompson's home, even after his passing. It stayed there among other items from his personal collection, sold with his home, moving from owner to owner with the house until Joe purchased the model years ago.
Builders dockyard models can be made cheaply, with few details, or they can be made extravagantly, sparing no expense to make the model as beautiful and well outfitted as the ship itself. This model is an example of the most costly way- a 10 out of 10. Every detail is finely wrought, with outstanding quality of materials including gold, silver and copper plated fittings throughout. Also the width and the depth of the model and case is larger than most half models.
ote the unusual square mirrored portholes and the deck's railing made of tiny chain threaded through the eyes of small silver posts. There are landing ladders fore and aft, each with every detail in place and a full complement of instruments on deck. The bow, in particular, is worth a good look with the ship's anchor attached with a linked chain wrapped around the windlass, the forward deck gun all sitting above a well carved figurehead.
The model is in superb original condition and is mounted in its original and unusual curved fronted glazed wooden case. A stand bar comes with the model to help anchor and support the weight when hung on a wall. There is a mate to this model in the collection of the Royal Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
The S.S. IVY was built in 1895 by Earle's Ship Building & Engineering Co. Limited, Hull and designed J. Thompson & Sons. The IVY was built of composite construction with wooden planking on iron frames and measured 220 feet in length by 34 feet in the beam and a tonnage of 870 gross.
This vessel was commissioned for the British Niger Coast Protectorate and was responsible for patrolling the Niger delta. In 1900 the Protectorate was joined to the Lower Niger, to become the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, which was later renamed Nigeria in 1914.
The IVY was in British service until 1923 when she was sold to the Sheik of Mohammerah, Persia- a region located in what is now Iran. In 1936, IVY was brought back to Britain and underwent reconditioning at the shipyard of J. Samuel White of Cowes. Her future afterwards is unknown as she no longer appears in Lloyd's Register after that date. Given that she was reconditioned in '36 it's likely the ship was renamed.
The painted backboard of the model reads:
o. 392, Twin Screw Composite Yacht "IVY" Built and Engined by EARLE'S Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Limited, HULL, 1895. From the designs of MESSERs J. Thompson and Sons, London, for the ROYAL NIGER COAST Protectorate. On the left: Length L.W.L. 204'-0", Breadth Extreme 34'-0", Depth Moulded 15'-7". On the right: I.H.P. 1100, Gross Tonnage 870, Speed 13¼ Knots.
Shown here are images of the IVY at sea from the book, "Steam Yachts" by David Couling, along with other ship and on deck images found online. These are shown as reference materials.
