28th Apr, 2010 12:00
Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art (Undaunted)
244
[M] A RARE CONTEMPORARY FRENCH DOCKYARD MODEL FOR...
A RARE CONTEMPORARY FRENCH DOCKYARD MODEL FOR THE 40-GUN FRIGATE LA POURSUIVANTE OF C.1794
with planked and pinned hull with individually cut and pinned copper sheathing, turned wooden guns and carronades on red-painted trucks, ebonised main wale, carved stern and quarter galleries with pierced brass tracing, planked and pinned deck with companionways, cleats, water casks, belfry with carved gilt bell, two armed and fitted longboats, bound masts with standing and running rigging with carved wooden blocks, yards and s'tuns'l booms with full suit of original stitched linen sails with reefing points and other details. Now mounted on a modern plexi-glass base with engraved brass plaque inscribed La Poursuivante, Frégate de 60 canons, 1794, Château de Dampierre, measurements overall -- 38 x 50in. (96.5 x 127cm.)
Designed by Pierre Forfait and built at Dunkirk, Poursuivante [the 'Chaser'] was laid down on 20th February 1794, launched on 23rd May 1796 and finally commissioned in May 1798. One of the French Navy's 'Romaine' class frigates, she displaced 700 tons and measured 45.5 metres in length with an 11.8 metre beam. Originally armed with 24-24pounders and 16-18pdrs., she enjoyed an active though relatively short service career during which she survived British fireships in 1800, the Haitian Rebellion in 1802 and then a celebrated encounter with the very much larger H.M.S. Hercule the following year.
Poursuivante's first recorded action was at Dunkirk where she was anchored in the roadstead in company with three other French frigates early in July 1800. On 7th July, the sloop H.M.S. Dart (Cdr. Patrick Campbell), along with several smaller vessels including four fireships, sailed into the roads intent on capturing or destroying the enemy frigates. After swiftly taking the Désirée, Campbell then ordered the fireships to make for the remaining frigates but all three, including Poursuivante, managed to escape due to the poor handling of the incendiaries. In 1802 Poursuivante, under Captain Jean-Baptiste Willaumez, sailed from Flushing carrying troops bound for St. Domingo but, upon arrival at her destination, found herself caught up in yet another rebellion in Haiti marked by the usual excessive brutality on both sides. At one point, Willaumez was ordered to throw some black rebels over the side of his ship but refused, arguing that "sailors of the French Navy were no executioners".
The Haitian incident took place during the lull of the so-called 'Peace of Amiens' (March 1802-May 1803) but once hostilities resumed Poursuivante was ordered to St. Domingo a second time, on this occasion in company with the 16-gun corvette Mignonne. Shortly before their arrival on 28th June 1803, they sighted a British convoy under escort by three '74's', H.M. ships Cumberland, Goliath and Hercule, the last a captured French prize. Whilst Goliath chased and swiftly captured Mignonne, Hercule's captain handled her so badly that even though she managed to engage Poursuivante, the frigate was able to rake the '74' before escaping despite severe damage. Heading north after temporary repairs, she then encountered a Liverpool merchantman, the Juno, off Wilmington which she captured after a furious action lasting two hours. Willaumez took the badly damaged Juno into Charleston for repairs but the American authorities forbade the work required so the prize was burned.
Afterwards damaged in a storm, Poursuivante refitted in Baltimore during the winter of 1803-04 and, on her way back to Rochefort the following spring, was sighted by but successfully evaded another British vessel. Unsurprisingly, after his remarkable exploits in American and Caribbean waters, Willaumez was promoted to flag rank when he returned home and his career continued to advance thereafter. For his frigate Poursuivante however, hers was almost over and, in June 1806, she was condemned as 'unfit for sea' and hulked at Rochefort. Why her career was so short remains a mystery but it seems likely that the structural damage she suffered from the guns of H.M.S. Hercule was far more serious than it had appeared at the time.
with planked and pinned hull with individually cut and pinned copper sheathing, turned wooden guns and carronades on red-painted trucks, ebonised main wale, carved stern and quarter galleries with pierced brass tracing, planked and pinned deck with companionways, cleats, water casks, belfry with carved gilt bell, two armed and fitted longboats, bound masts with standing and running rigging with carved wooden blocks, yards and s'tuns'l booms with full suit of original stitched linen sails with reefing points and other details. Now mounted on a modern plexi-glass base with engraved brass plaque inscribed La Poursuivante, Frégate de 60 canons, 1794, Château de Dampierre, measurements overall -- 38 x 50in. (96.5 x 127cm.)
Designed by Pierre Forfait and built at Dunkirk, Poursuivante [the 'Chaser'] was laid down on 20th February 1794, launched on 23rd May 1796 and finally commissioned in May 1798. One of the French Navy's 'Romaine' class frigates, she displaced 700 tons and measured 45.5 metres in length with an 11.8 metre beam. Originally armed with 24-24pounders and 16-18pdrs., she enjoyed an active though relatively short service career during which she survived British fireships in 1800, the Haitian Rebellion in 1802 and then a celebrated encounter with the very much larger H.M.S. Hercule the following year.
Poursuivante's first recorded action was at Dunkirk where she was anchored in the roadstead in company with three other French frigates early in July 1800. On 7th July, the sloop H.M.S. Dart (Cdr. Patrick Campbell), along with several smaller vessels including four fireships, sailed into the roads intent on capturing or destroying the enemy frigates. After swiftly taking the Désirée, Campbell then ordered the fireships to make for the remaining frigates but all three, including Poursuivante, managed to escape due to the poor handling of the incendiaries. In 1802 Poursuivante, under Captain Jean-Baptiste Willaumez, sailed from Flushing carrying troops bound for St. Domingo but, upon arrival at her destination, found herself caught up in yet another rebellion in Haiti marked by the usual excessive brutality on both sides. At one point, Willaumez was ordered to throw some black rebels over the side of his ship but refused, arguing that "sailors of the French Navy were no executioners".
The Haitian incident took place during the lull of the so-called 'Peace of Amiens' (March 1802-May 1803) but once hostilities resumed Poursuivante was ordered to St. Domingo a second time, on this occasion in company with the 16-gun corvette Mignonne. Shortly before their arrival on 28th June 1803, they sighted a British convoy under escort by three '74's', H.M. ships Cumberland, Goliath and Hercule, the last a captured French prize. Whilst Goliath chased and swiftly captured Mignonne, Hercule's captain handled her so badly that even though she managed to engage Poursuivante, the frigate was able to rake the '74' before escaping despite severe damage. Heading north after temporary repairs, she then encountered a Liverpool merchantman, the Juno, off Wilmington which she captured after a furious action lasting two hours. Willaumez took the badly damaged Juno into Charleston for repairs but the American authorities forbade the work required so the prize was burned.
Afterwards damaged in a storm, Poursuivante refitted in Baltimore during the winter of 1803-04 and, on her way back to Rochefort the following spring, was sighted by but successfully evaded another British vessel. Unsurprisingly, after his remarkable exploits in American and Caribbean waters, Willaumez was promoted to flag rank when he returned home and his career continued to advance thereafter. For his frigate Poursuivante however, hers was almost over and, in June 1806, she was condemned as 'unfit for sea' and hulked at Rochefort. Why her career was so short remains a mystery but it seems likely that the structural damage she suffered from the guns of H.M.S. Hercule was far more serious than it had appeared at the time.
Sold for £27,280
Estimated at £25,000 - £35,000
(inc. buyer's premium of 24%)
A RARE CONTEMPORARY FRENCH DOCKYARD MODEL FOR THE 40-GUN FRIGATE LA POURSUIVANTE OF C.1794
with planked and pinned hull with individually cut and pinned copper sheathing, turned wooden guns and carronades on red-painted trucks, ebonised main wale, carved stern and quarter galleries with pierced brass tracing, planked and pinned deck with companionways, cleats, water casks, belfry with carved gilt bell, two armed and fitted longboats, bound masts with standing and running rigging with carved wooden blocks, yards and s'tuns'l booms with full suit of original stitched linen sails with reefing points and other details. Now mounted on a modern plexi-glass base with engraved brass plaque inscribed La Poursuivante, Frégate de 60 canons, 1794, Château de Dampierre, measurements overall -- 38 x 50in. (96.5 x 127cm.)
Designed by Pierre Forfait and built at Dunkirk, Poursuivante [the 'Chaser'] was laid down on 20th February 1794, launched on 23rd May 1796 and finally commissioned in May 1798. One of the French Navy's 'Romaine' class frigates, she displaced 700 tons and measured 45.5 metres in length with an 11.8 metre beam. Originally armed with 24-24pounders and 16-18pdrs., she enjoyed an active though relatively short service career during which she survived British fireships in 1800, the Haitian Rebellion in 1802 and then a celebrated encounter with the very much larger H.M.S. Hercule the following year.
Poursuivante's first recorded action was at Dunkirk where she was anchored in the roadstead in company with three other French frigates early in July 1800. On 7th July, the sloop H.M.S. Dart (Cdr. Patrick Campbell), along with several smaller vessels including four fireships, sailed into the roads intent on capturing or destroying the enemy frigates. After swiftly taking the Désirée, Campbell then ordered the fireships to make for the remaining frigates but all three, including Poursuivante, managed to escape due to the poor handling of the incendiaries. In 1802 Poursuivante, under Captain Jean-Baptiste Willaumez, sailed from Flushing carrying troops bound for St. Domingo but, upon arrival at her destination, found herself caught up in yet another rebellion in Haiti marked by the usual excessive brutality on both sides. At one point, Willaumez was ordered to throw some black rebels over the side of his ship but refused, arguing that "sailors of the French Navy were no executioners".
The Haitian incident took place during the lull of the so-called 'Peace of Amiens' (March 1802-May 1803) but once hostilities resumed Poursuivante was ordered to St. Domingo a second time, on this occasion in company with the 16-gun corvette Mignonne. Shortly before their arrival on 28th June 1803, they sighted a British convoy under escort by three '74's', H.M. ships Cumberland, Goliath and Hercule, the last a captured French prize. Whilst Goliath chased and swiftly captured Mignonne, Hercule's captain handled her so badly that even though she managed to engage Poursuivante, the frigate was able to rake the '74' before escaping despite severe damage. Heading north after temporary repairs, she then encountered a Liverpool merchantman, the Juno, off Wilmington which she captured after a furious action lasting two hours. Willaumez took the badly damaged Juno into Charleston for repairs but the American authorities forbade the work required so the prize was burned.
Afterwards damaged in a storm, Poursuivante refitted in Baltimore during the winter of 1803-04 and, on her way back to Rochefort the following spring, was sighted by but successfully evaded another British vessel. Unsurprisingly, after his remarkable exploits in American and Caribbean waters, Willaumez was promoted to flag rank when he returned home and his career continued to advance thereafter. For his frigate Poursuivante however, hers was almost over and, in June 1806, she was condemned as 'unfit for sea' and hulked at Rochefort. Why her career was so short remains a mystery but it seems likely that the structural damage she suffered from the guns of H.M.S. Hercule was far more serious than it had appeared at the time.
with planked and pinned hull with individually cut and pinned copper sheathing, turned wooden guns and carronades on red-painted trucks, ebonised main wale, carved stern and quarter galleries with pierced brass tracing, planked and pinned deck with companionways, cleats, water casks, belfry with carved gilt bell, two armed and fitted longboats, bound masts with standing and running rigging with carved wooden blocks, yards and s'tuns'l booms with full suit of original stitched linen sails with reefing points and other details. Now mounted on a modern plexi-glass base with engraved brass plaque inscribed La Poursuivante, Frégate de 60 canons, 1794, Château de Dampierre, measurements overall -- 38 x 50in. (96.5 x 127cm.)
Designed by Pierre Forfait and built at Dunkirk, Poursuivante [the 'Chaser'] was laid down on 20th February 1794, launched on 23rd May 1796 and finally commissioned in May 1798. One of the French Navy's 'Romaine' class frigates, she displaced 700 tons and measured 45.5 metres in length with an 11.8 metre beam. Originally armed with 24-24pounders and 16-18pdrs., she enjoyed an active though relatively short service career during which she survived British fireships in 1800, the Haitian Rebellion in 1802 and then a celebrated encounter with the very much larger H.M.S. Hercule the following year.
Poursuivante's first recorded action was at Dunkirk where she was anchored in the roadstead in company with three other French frigates early in July 1800. On 7th July, the sloop H.M.S. Dart (Cdr. Patrick Campbell), along with several smaller vessels including four fireships, sailed into the roads intent on capturing or destroying the enemy frigates. After swiftly taking the Désirée, Campbell then ordered the fireships to make for the remaining frigates but all three, including Poursuivante, managed to escape due to the poor handling of the incendiaries. In 1802 Poursuivante, under Captain Jean-Baptiste Willaumez, sailed from Flushing carrying troops bound for St. Domingo but, upon arrival at her destination, found herself caught up in yet another rebellion in Haiti marked by the usual excessive brutality on both sides. At one point, Willaumez was ordered to throw some black rebels over the side of his ship but refused, arguing that "sailors of the French Navy were no executioners".
The Haitian incident took place during the lull of the so-called 'Peace of Amiens' (March 1802-May 1803) but once hostilities resumed Poursuivante was ordered to St. Domingo a second time, on this occasion in company with the 16-gun corvette Mignonne. Shortly before their arrival on 28th June 1803, they sighted a British convoy under escort by three '74's', H.M. ships Cumberland, Goliath and Hercule, the last a captured French prize. Whilst Goliath chased and swiftly captured Mignonne, Hercule's captain handled her so badly that even though she managed to engage Poursuivante, the frigate was able to rake the '74' before escaping despite severe damage. Heading north after temporary repairs, she then encountered a Liverpool merchantman, the Juno, off Wilmington which she captured after a furious action lasting two hours. Willaumez took the badly damaged Juno into Charleston for repairs but the American authorities forbade the work required so the prize was burned.
Afterwards damaged in a storm, Poursuivante refitted in Baltimore during the winter of 1803-04 and, on her way back to Rochefort the following spring, was sighted by but successfully evaded another British vessel. Unsurprisingly, after his remarkable exploits in American and Caribbean waters, Willaumez was promoted to flag rank when he returned home and his career continued to advance thereafter. For his frigate Poursuivante however, hers was almost over and, in June 1806, she was condemned as 'unfit for sea' and hulked at Rochefort. Why her career was so short remains a mystery but it seems likely that the structural damage she suffered from the guns of H.M.S. Hercule was far more serious than it had appeared at the time.
Auction: Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art (Undaunted), 28th Apr, 2010
