Warship le 'Mars'

Scale: unknown. A contemporary full hull model of the Le 'Mars', a third rate 80 gun ship. It is fully rigged and complete with numerous fittings including a full set of boats, the whole of which is supported by green veneered crutches mounted on a straw-covered marquetry baseboard. This model was probably named after the 'Mars' of Trafalgar fame although typically, it includes fittings of both English and French design. Of particular interest is a twin binnacle box, mounted on deck just forward of the double wheel, which contains the two compasses from which the helmsman would steer a course. It is also complete with hammock nettings along the top of the bulwarks, in which the hammocks, used for sleeping in below decks, were stored during the day. To protect them against the weather, the nettings were covered by a painted canvas sheet lashed to the iron cranes. This additional height above the deck also gave extra protection to the gun crews from small arms fire during battle. Apart from the rich and ornately carved wooden decoration, the lower wooden hull is covered with copper to give the impression of copper sheathing, used to prevent damage from both the marine boring worm 'teredo navalis' and weed growth.