A war ship which served British interests valiantly in the War of American Independence, and after nearly a decade of being laid up, answered the call in the defense of the realm against the French machinations of Napoleon. One of four Third-Raters of the Alfred Class, along with ALEXANDER, MONTAGUE and ALFRED, such ships were considered the ‘backbone of the British Royal Navy'. WARRIOR's record of service includes launching into the fray against the American Colonies immediately in 1781, to battle the superior numbers of the French fleet amongst the "islands of sugar and riches" of the West Indies. Close to 600 men of the British Navy sailed on her, living and battling onboard her 169' overall length, 138.5'loa x 46.7'b x 20'b.
A pure example of the quality of work performed under the rather bleak circumstances make this Napoleonic prisoner-of-war artifact a fascinating and highly desired piece. The fine carving on this ship model is top flight, and the complete sense that the artisan bequeathed the ship makes it stand above others of its size. Horn is a particularly difficult material to work into a controlled form, found here forming the horizontal wales of the hull. Easier to work but just as spectacular are the gold mast bands and the connectors between the sternpost and rudder. The finely carved stern and quarter galleries echo the finer realities of the officers living quarters, when compared to the ordinary and able seamen living arraignments in the forecastle and amongst the guns, 16 of which are visible on deck; turned metal set in stepped carriages of bone. The rest poke ominously out of each gunport, at the ready. The carved swordsman figurehead at the bow is positioned in a rather unique and masculine pose.
A model made in a British prison, it is testament to the individuals involved on both sides. The artistry speaks of the French pride and skill, while the ship is entirely a historic British vessel. She primarily fought two principle fleet engagements, the first in support of Admiral Horatio Nelson during his attack on the Danish fleet at Copenhagen on April 2nd 1801; and the second in Admiral Calder's less decisive action against the French fleet of Admiral Villeneuve off Rochefort on July 22nd 1805. After Napoleon's defeat, WARRIOR served as a receiving ship from 1819 until 1840, when ironically, she was made a convict hulk at Woolwich up to the building of Chatham Prison in 1856.
