Bottle 547 - Archibald Russel

This is a model of the "Archibald Russel" a 4 mast Bark, and according to Frans Dekker, the artist, it is built in the style of a church-ship; that is, displayed suspended in the center of the bottle. These ships were made often by captains when the came home after a dangerous voyage to thank god for a good home coming. In many churches in Holland you can still see them, hanging on the ceiling. What makes this so unique is that the wood dowel suspending the ship is actually part of the main mast. The hull is red on the bottom and the top hale painted white. There are 32 gun ports painted black, 16 on each side of the hull. The ship has 4 masts and 27 sails. It is built with both standing and running rigging. The ship’s forecastle is painted white with white railing and is equipped with two bollards, crane, hatch, anchor winch and 2 lights. From the forecastle to the poop deck there is a bridge, 2 deckhouses for the crew and 1 donkey-room. 2 life boats hang on davits on the poop deck. There is also room for the officers on deck and a steering-house. The bottle is completed with Turk’s Head knot and a seal. The bottle rests on a custom made wooden plinth.