Scaffolding Model of a 60 to 68-Gun Ship 1752

This is a scaffolding model of a 60 to 68-gun ship, made by Schelte Hasselaar. The Dutch Republic in the 17th and 18th centuries was a leading maritime power, with a vast global trade network and a powerful navy. This model offers a glimpse into the intricate process of shipbuilding, a crucial industry in the Dutch Golden Age. These models were made by shipwrights to explain the structure of the ship to prospective builders. The unfinished state allows us to see the internal framework, revealing the complex engineering and craftsmanship required to construct these vessels. Understanding the social conditions that enabled such maritime power—from the economic systems that fueled trade to the political structures that supported naval expansion—is crucial to interpreting this work. Careful archival research would help us explore how Dutch society was shaped by its relationship with the sea.