Model ship
Goldsmiths' & Silversmiths' Co. Ltd
Category
Silver
Date
1930 - 1931
Materials
Silver model and mahogany plinth.
Measurements
55.7 x 63.2 x 38.8 cm; 44.2 cm (Length); 20.0 cm (Width)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
NT 516536
Summary
A finely detailed model of the ship, Mayflower, silver (sterling), mahogany and glass, mark of the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Ltd, London, 1930/1. The silver model of the square-rigged ship stands on a stepped mahogany plinth within a glass and mahogany case. The rectangular silver base is chased with choppy waves. The hull of the ship, small lifeboat, sails and flags are raised; the masts, mizzen, yardarms, bowsprit, crows nests, blocks and other small parts are cast, and the wires for the rigging are drawn. The parts are soldered or attached by wires to form the model. The stern is engraved with a sunflower over a small flower between two dolphins; with a ribbon below inscribed: ‘MAYFLOWER’. The flag on the topsail is engraved with the Union Flag, and the flag on the foremast is engraved with the Cross of St George. The silver plaque on the front of the plinth is inscribed: “MAYFLOWER” 180 TONS/ WHICH SAILED FROM PLYMOUTH FOR THE NEW WORLD/ HAVING ON BOARD 41 MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES, A TOTAL OF 102 PERSONS IN ALL/ AFTER A STORMY PASSAGE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TAKING 63 DAYS/ THEY LANDED AT WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS PLYMOUTH ROCK ON THE COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS U.S.A./ ON DECEMBER 21 1620. Heraldry: None Hallmarks: Fully hallmarked amongst the waves: ‘G & S Co/ LTD (Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Ltd*), lion passant (sterling), leopard’s head (London), and ‘p’ (1930/31) * Rosemary Ransome Wallis, ed: Treasures of the 20th Century: silver, jewellery and art medals from the 20th Century Collection of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London, 2000, p 179 Scratch weight: None
Full description
Lord Fairhaven’s grandfather, Henry Huttleston Rogers, was proud to date his family back to Thomas Rogers, one of the Pilgrim Fathers, who came to America aboard the Mayflower in 1620. When the ship arrived at Provincetown Harbour, Massachusetts, Thomas, along with forty of the 101 passengers, signed the Mayflower Compact, agreeing ‘to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia’ and ‘abide by any laws and regulations that would later be established ‘for the general good of the colony’. [1] Thomas travelled with his son, Joseph, who at seventeen or eighteen was too young to sign the Compact. A delay to the Mayflower’s departure and rough seas meant that she did not drop anchor until 21 November. The settlers were ill-prepared to arrive so late in the season. The harsh winter weather, plus lack of shelter and provisions would have caused many to starve had it not been for assistance from the local Native Americans. Nevertheless, an outbreak of disease in that first winter killed forty-eight of the passengers, including Thomas Rogers. It is thought that William Bradford, one of the Pilgrim leaders, looked after Joseph for the next few years. By 1630 Joseph had been joined in America by his brother John. Both brothers married, had large families and are recorded in a grant of land of fifty acres apiece in 1640. Anglesey Abbey’s silver model of the Mayflower was one of many splendid exhibits at the British Empire Trade Exhibition held in Buenos Aires in 1931. This extraordinarily large and ambitious exhibition was conceived to stimulate British exports to Argentina, although special trains were laid on to bring potential buyers from as far away as Canada and Peru. [2] The Prince of Wales opened the exhibition on 14 March to an enthusiastic reception. Within a month over one million visitors had attended, and the closing date had been extended until 27 April. [3] The site was a twenty-five acre showground, near the heart of the city, borrowed from the Argentine Rural Society. Cattle sheds were camouflaged with the facade of Hampton Court Palace and a Tudor street, and interspersed with trees and shrubs. 300,000 square feet of pavilion space displayed a vast array of exhibits from eight-hundred different manufacturers. Pavilions 8 and 9, either side of the arena and bandstand were devoted to textiles, sports goods, food stuffs and drinks, office furniture and supplies, and a general range of miscellaneous and household goods’, ranging from Colman’s Mustard, and Chivers’ jams, to Dunlop tennis balls, Chilprufe children’s vests and Holland & Holland’s guns and fishing tackle. British manufactured cars and aircraft were displayed for sale, as well as a large number of industrial firms producing everything from Bakelite and concrete to railway rolling stock. The British Government Pavilion contained a vast map demonstrating the role played by the British Empire in world commerce, along with a history of the British from the Stone Age to the Norman Conquest, and facsimiles of first editions of the English Bible, Shakespeare’s first folio, Pepys’ Diary, and numerous books important to the history of the arts and sciences. The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths occupied the central court of the Museum Building. They had spent months liaising with the major British manufacturers and dealers in silver, gold, and jewellery. Records of their meetings are held at the Company’s library showing that they contributed the substantial sum of £1,000 towards the stands and display of silver, which included stock from Elkington & Co Ltd, the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Ltd, Mappin & Webb, and D & J Wellby. The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co Ltd took several large packing cases of silverware. Most items were practical, such as sugar casters, cream jugs, tea services, soup tureens, cigarette cases, and candelabra, but there were also large cups and covers and three silver models: the aeroplane ‘Siskin 111A’ for £50.00, the racing car ‘Golden Arrow’ for £30, and the most expensive of all, ‘the model of the ship “Mayflower” with wood plinth, wood and glass case’ for £155.10.0. These three models appear on the list of goods which did not sell, and were returned to London. It is not known when the model of the Mayflower was bought by Alan Burns, 4th Baron Inverclyde, but he presented it to the Broughton family. He was a great friend of Huttleston Broughton (later Lord Fairhaven), and cruised with him and his parents on their yacht, the large and luxurious Sapphire, to India and Malaya. In his privately printed memoir of their lengthy holiday, Porpoises and People, he writes ‘I can only trust that they may sense my very real and sincere appreciation of the enjoyable and interesting months they have given me, and which I shall never forget. The gratitude that I feel I have been totally unable to put into spoken words. [1] William Bradford’s transcription of the Mayflower Compact, 1630-1651 [2] The Times, British Empire Trade Exhibition, Its Origin and Growth: 10 March 1931, p 35 [3] The Times, British Empire Trade Exhibition in Buenos Aires, 26 March 1931, p 13 Jane Ewart, 2025
Provenance
(John) Alan Burns, 4th Baron Inverclyde (1897-1957) (Urban) Huttleston Rogers Broughton, 1st Baron Fairhaven (1896-1966) bequeathed by Lord Fairhaven to the National Trust along with the house and the rest of the contents. National Trust
Credit line
Anglesey Abbey, the Fairhaven Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Goldsmiths' & Silversmiths' Co. Ltd, goldsmith