A rare 19th Century French glass model of a 42 gun Frigate, probably from the Nevers region. (c. 1820 French)

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Olga Drahotova 1983: European Glass

A rare 19th Century glass 42 gun Frigate from Nevers, the historic glass-making centre of France. The ship is made entirely of thin strands of glass, from hull to mast, complete with a tiny crewmen and figurehead. The glass-making tradition was originally brought to the city by Italian settlers from L'Altare. Known as Altarists, these glassmakers were expert craftsmen and were famed for producing tiny figurines of people and farm animals. Circa 1820.