Britannia 1840, British Merchant Steamship miniature model by August F. Crabtree, Mariner’s Museum, Newport News, Virginia
Crabtree Gallery – The Miniature Ships of Winnifred & August F. Crabtree (Mariner’s Museum)
The jewel of The Mariners’ Museum’s collection are The Miniature Ships of August F. and Winnifred Crabtree. From a primitive raft to a Venetian galleass decorated with 359 carved figures, the evolution of boatbuilding is depicted in an unparalleled display of craftsmanship by artist/carver August F. Crabtree. With help from his wife, Winnifred, Crabtree created this extraordinary miniature fleet. This popular exhibit includes redesigned display cases allowing for better viewing of the models, new state-of-the-art fiber optic lighting, illustrations depicting the individual ships, and a special section highlighting Crabtree’s life and work using photographs and a display of the unique tools and techniques that Crabtree used to make his unparalleled models.
