French Prisoner-of-War Bone Ship Model, HMS Victory

An incredible and extremely rare artifact of world history, this monumental model of the HMS Victory was created during the Napoléonic Wars by a French prisoner of war. Formed from bone and horn, every detail of this historic ship has been carefully attended to, from the intricate rigging to the decorative bowhead. The HMS Victory, a 104-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, was first launched in May of 1765 and would go on to take part in numerous naval battles against the French, including the Battles of Ushant, the Battle of Cape St Vincent and the momentous Battle of Tralfagar.

The years of conflict between Napoléon and Britain’s King George III were long and arduous, and captured French prisoners spent years in British prisons. In order to pass the time, many prisoners began to produce models such as this, which they could then sell at markets held within their camps. Using scraps of bone from their meals and other found material, they created stunning works of remarkable artistry, from dominoes and decorative boxes to large-scale guillotines. Ship models such as this were among the most coveted of their output, enjoying particular popularity with the officers of the Royal Navy. Due to their intricacy, very few have survived the test of time, making this example a rarity.

Circa 1790

Ship: 15 3/4" high by 2 1/4" wide by 2 3/4" deep