Soleil Royal Medium Wooden Model Ship 28" Long
Dimension
L: 28 W: 10 H: 27 Inches
About
This is a museum-quality Soleil Royal model, FULLY ASSEMBLED replica of the most impressive tall ship ever in the French Navy. Built for King Louis XIV in the late 1600s, the 112-gun “Sun King” was decorated with woodcarvings of the French monarch and was the symbol of grace and ability. This is an “Exclusive Edition” where the model has a unique serial number etched into the hull, which allows us to identify production date, material used and all other production information of a model.
Master craftsmen using historical photographs, drawings or original plans meticulously handcraft these highly detailed wood models from scratch. They are built to scale with high-grade wood such as: western red cedar, rosewood, and mahogany. They are 100% hand built individually using plank-on-frame construction method and are similar to the building of actual ships. Each model requires hundreds of hours to finish and must go through a demanding quality control process before leaving the workshop.
This beautiful Soleil Royal model features plank on frame, three decks, and two rows of ferocious cannons on each side of the ship. A unique bowsprit design that consists of: brass statues, crafted metal panels, and open metal doors that lead into the ship cabin. The front bowsprit and three large masts are connected securely using advanced rigging and lines painstakingly knotted and fastened by hand. Each yard has an attached hand-stitched rolled-up sails made of fine linen. Metal anchors and a wooden rudder are visible on the front and rear of the ship. On the deck, there are metal steering wheel, authentic hand-built lifeboats with ribs and planks, wooden ladders, wooden barrels, wooden windlass, and many other handcrafted ornaments. There is also an exquisite detailed admiral’s quarter on the stern with beautiful handcrafted metal lanterns, amazing metal crafted statues, and many detailed brass ornaments.
This model comes standard with a solid wood base and brass nameplate. It’ll make a perfect gift for home or office decorator, boat enthusiast or passionate collector.
History
Soleil Royal (Royal Sun) was a French 104-gun ship of the line, flagship of Admiral Tourville.
She was built in Brest between 1668 and 1670 by engineer Laurent Hubac, was launched in 1669, and stayed unused in Brest harbour for years. She was recommissioned with 112 guns and 1200 men when the Nine Years War broke out in 1688 as the flagship of the escadre du Ponant (squadron of the Ponant).
She was said to be a good sailing ship and her decorations were amongst the most beautiful and elaborate of all baroque flagships. The emblem of the "sun" had been chosen by Louis XIV as his personal symbol.
