Display 11: Ship models
Ship Models = Navigation in Practice
Why ship models?
The navigation instruments in this exhibition show how sailors determined their position.
The ship models show where and when those instruments were used.
Together, they make clear:
• how navigation evolved from coastal sailing to ocean navigation
• how new instruments went hand in hand with new ship types and ambitions
• how each period had its own characteristic combination of ship + instruments
Core message:
Navigation has never been a single instrument,
but always a combination of ship, knowledge, and technology.
What you see in this exhibition:
• instruments = thinking and measuring
• ships = applying in practice
Together, they tell the story of human curiosity, risk, and craftsmanship at sea.
11.1
Viking Sneek, Half model of the Oseberg-type ship from Sweden, 820 AC
Maker:
Not known
Collection:
Koen De Vriese
Half model of an Oseberg-type vessel (Sweden)
On loan from Koen Devrieze
Viking ships were built for speed, coastal navigation, and open-sea travel.
Navigation was carried out without charts or instruments as we know them today.
The Vikings relied on:
• the Sun and the stars
• wind, waves, and birds
• simple aids such as the sun compass
➡️ Instruments in the showcases:
sun compass, natural orientation, early astronomical knowledge
11.2
Kogge of Cog 14 th century
Maker:
Maker unknown
Collection:
MAS AS 1946.007.004
Ship model of the Cog
Collection MAS AS.1946.005.002.A
The cog was the workhorse of medieval trade in Northern Europe.
Navigation remained largely coastal.
Typical aids included:
• the compass
• portolan charts
• simple quadrants
➡️ Instruments in the showcases:
portolan charts, quadrant, early compasses
11.3
Model of Columbus’ flagship, 15th century
Maker:
Maker unknown
Collection:
MAS AS.1929.021
Model ship of the "Santa Maria," Columbus's flagship.
With ships like the Santa Maria, true ocean navigation began.
Navigation now had to be possible on the high seas.
Instruments used:
• quadrant
• maritime astrolabe
• compass and hourglass
➡️ Instruments in the display cases:
• maritime astrolabe, quadrant, timekeeping.
11.4
Ship model of the armed merchant ship DE JONGE JACOB
Maker:
Maker unknown
Collection:
MAS AS.1943.009.003
Ship model of the armed merchant ship DE JONGE JACOB. This heavily armed convoy ship probably escorted merchant ships on their way to southern Spain. It was equipped with 58 pieces. The flat back (the so-called 'rear mirror'/'dulcimer') of this model from 1724 is decorated with the Austrian coat of arms. Scale model 1:40.
The long journeys to southern Spain or even Asia required better accuracy.
Long-distance voyages to Asia demanded greater accuracy.
New navigation instruments were introduced.
Characteristic of this period:
• Jacob’s staff
• backstaff (Davis quadrant)
• early octants
➡️ Instruments in the showcases:
Jacob’s staff, backstaff, octant
11.5
Endeavour van James Cook AS.2003.020.023 1768-1771
Maker:
T. Meersman ( Modelbuilder)
Collection:
MAS AS.2003.020.023
Model of James Cook's ship
The Endeavour symbolizes the scientific revolution at sea. It became famous as the ship on which British Lieutenant James Cook embarked on his first great voyage of discovery (1768-1771), which took in Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, and the hypothetical southern continent (Terra Australis Incognita). This was the period of the "quest for longitude."
First used together:
• sextant
• stopwatch
• Nautical Almanac
➡️ Instruments in the display cases:
First sextants, chronometers, lunar distance method.
11.6
HMS Victory, the ship in which Lord Nelson won the Battle of Trafalgar and then died on 21/10/1805
Maker:
Collection:
VNSM Collection Friends of the New Maritime Museum
Admiral Nelson’s flagship illustrates the standardisation of navigation.
Navigation became more reliable and professional.
➡️ Instruments in the showcases:
refined sextants, improved chronometers
11.7
Belgica, the polar ship used during the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897–99, led by A. De Gerlache-Gomery.
Maker:
Maker unknown
Collection:
MAS AS.1957.021
Antarctic expedition ship of Adrien de Gerlache
Collection MAS – AS.1957.021
Polar expeditions placed extreme demands on navigation:
• magnetic disturbances
• long periods without sunlight
• navigation on land and ice
➡️ Instruments in the showcases:
dip needle, artificial horizon, precision chronometers
11.8
School ship Mercator, 1932
Maker:
Shipmodel from NavigArte
Halfmodels from VNSM
Collection:
NavigArte
The Mercator was built as a training vessel commissioned by A. de Gerlache.
Future officers learned classical navigation techniques here, even as electronic aids were already emerging.
➡️ Instruments in the showcases:
sextant, chronometer, Walker Cherub II patent log
Hanging next to the Mercator School Ship:
11.9
Gaston Wijns, Antwerp
Gelatin silver print, original photo: Cadets with sextant on school ship Mercator, 1933
Next to it hang the three half-models of the school ships
* Comte de Smet de Naeyer (1904-1906) l
* Avenir, 1908 -1938
* Mercator 1932 -1961
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