RARE BUILDER'S HALF HULL SHIP MODEL BUTTOCK'S METHOD AMERICA'S MATCH RACE CHALLENGER TATANIA, Royal Yacht Squadron Ca 1850 Presented is a beautiful antique builder's half hull model made to loft the lines of a very special British Royal Yacht Squadron schooner yacht, TATANIA. It is mounted on a Mahogany backboard with plaque that describes the vessel's history and dimensions. Both are recent additions.  PROVENANCE:  This model was most recently owned by a distinguished academician who was collector of nautical antiques who decided to dispose of his collection. He had purchased it from us in 2007. The hull is marked in faded blue ink on its reverse, "Titania, 70 ft WL". It is reported to have come from an estate thirty two years ago. Nothing is know of its earlier history. TATANIA VS AMERICA MATCH RACE: In yachting history 1851 is remembered as the year that the yacht America won the Royal Yacht Squadron's One Hundred Guinea Cup in a race Round the Isle of Wight. That cup, and the contest for which it is now the prize, is world famous as The America's Cup. Schooner America's owners entered the yacht for the cup race before realizing that an owner of an English yacht had responded to the challenge placed by Commodore John Cox Stevens in the RYS Clubhouse soliciting interest in the forthcoming event. The man was noted naval architect and RYS Member Robert Stephenson. The yacht was Tatania and the race - a match race of the modern style of The America's Cup competition - took place a week after the more famous cup race.        TATANIA'S BRIEF HISTORY: Titania was launched from the Robinson and Russell yard at Millwall on the Thames, in early 1850. She was 84.7 feet long overall with a 70 foot waterline. She was rigged as a schooner.   The Illustrated London News reported the match race, as it later reported the disastrous fire which consumed the yacht in May 1852. Being iron, her frame survived the fire and John Scott Russell rebuilt his yacht, renaming her Themis. LIFT METHOD: Half Hulls were carefully hand carved, and incorporated the latest in the designer's knowledge of which shape produced the fastest and most seaworthy vessel. They are usually made using multiple layers of wood, stacked one on top of each other on a horizontal plane, called lifts. The lifts were made to be taken apart, and were used as a template to lay off the lines on the floor. These were then enlarged to the vessel's full size in a process that was called "lofting".   BUTTOCK METHOD: In this method, the concept is similar, but the lift's are placed together on a vertical plane, and instead of describing the shape of waterlines, they show the shape of the vessels buttock's or cheeks. When translated into an elevation drawing, the buttocks appear as curved lines and the stations and waterlines appear as straight vertical lines. This is in contrast to a plan view of the vessel's shape where the waterlines are shown as curved lines and the buttocks and stations as straight lines.   DIMENSIONS: The ship model is 23 1/4" L x 3" W x 3 1/2" H The backboard is  20" L x 7 1/4" W x 3/4" D Weight 5 pounds.  CONDITION: The half hull shows the hand work of scribed or sawn stations at five positions. It also has a hand scribed waterline. There are stations scribed on her deck in pencil.  When received, it was a state of long term abuse and was refinished in our shop. There is a small chip of wood missing at the bow at deck level. There is a small chip of wood missing on the transom at deck level. On the underside, just above the rudder, there is a chip missing on two lifts. The hull is finished in varnish and has an appealing warm golden patina. The deck is unfinished and unsanded and has station markings in pencil. There are some small nicks on the underside. The Mahogany backboard is a recent addition, but two mounting holes were already existing indicating the hull had been previously mounted.  OUR UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original condition and packaging. Returns must be insured for their full value. All that is required is a prior email authorization by us for the return. Unfortunately, no refund can be made for the cost of shipping, packaging and handling unless we are at fault.  International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, Republic of China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Hebrides (Vanuatu), New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI, Vanuatu (New Hebrides) and the Eastern Caribbean. STANDARD FORMS OF PAYMENT are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. Our prices are quoted net to us so that the use of credit cards or PayPal for lesser value items incur extra charges. Terms on overseas sales may be different.    Copyright 2016 - 2007 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved