Model of the Slave Ship De Witte Oliphant by Anonymous

Model of the Slave Ship De Witte Oliphant 1755

anonymous

3d sculpting

3d model

3d image

stone

sculpture

plastic material rendering

sculptural image

unrealistic statue

3d shape

statue

This 1755 ship model, “Model of the Slave Ship De Witte Oliphant,” is a striking reminder of the transatlantic slave trade. The intricately detailed model showcases the design of a slave ship, highlighting the ship's three masts and rigging. The model's size, 205 cm tall and 225 cm long, provides a powerful visual representation of the scale of these vessels that transported millions of Africans across the Atlantic. This anonymous artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the brutality of the slave trade and its lasting impact on history.

Comments

rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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For a merchantman, this model has a broad hull and unusually tall masts. These features, as well as the decoration of African men on either corner of the stern, strongly suggest that it was used to transport enslaved people. Models of such slave ships are exceptionally rare. It is not known how this one came to be in the Department of the Navy’s collection.