Half Model of a Screw Steamer c. 1875 - 1878

This half model of a screw steamer was made at Rijkswerf Amsterdam, using wood and metal. Ship models like this one were once essential to shipbuilding. They weren't just pretty decorations; they were the way that naval architects finalized their designs. The process would begin with a technical drawing and, after that, the carved model. From this three-dimensional object, builders could take precise measurements, ensuring accuracy in the full-sized vessel. Notice that the maker has incorporated metal elements, such as the propeller. This adds realism, but also hints at the industrial transformation underway, with steam power overtaking sail. Consider all the labor involved. From forest to finished form, many hands would have been involved in material extraction and processing. And the model itself, though small in scale, demanded considerable skill. The result is both a functional object and a testament to human ingenuity. It reminds us that even in an age of digital design, there is no substitute for the tangible.