Half Model of a Screw Steamer 1857

This wooden half model of a screw steamer emerges from the Rijkswerf Amsterdam. The ship, a vessel of passage and exploration, echoes the mythical Ark, bearing life across the waters. Think of the ancient barques ferrying souls across the Nile, or the seafaring vessels carrying forth generations of explorers. A ship, thus, is a vessel of hope, courage, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Consider the stern of the ship, this mirrors that of a bird in flight. Just as birds have long represented freedom and the spirit's journey, the stern propels the vessel, a silent promise of safe return. These shared motifs, spanning millennia and cultures, reveal our deep-seated yearning for exploration, a desire etched in our collective memory and subconscious. Notice the ship's silent poise, a powerful emblem engaging us, beckoning us to step forward and embark on this endless odyssey.