Ship models of human bones

To create these models of ships, it took the bones of humans and animals, which served as the main material.
Did these ships the French prisoners of war captured by the British during the Napoleonic Wars.




At that time, as the British prisoners passed the time by playing sports games, the French chose a different (rather grim) hobby - collecting models of enemy ships. French prisoners held in custody for about ten years since the war between the European powers was delayed for a long time. Over the years the French contrived the whole fleet. Most bones are "mined" from pork and lamb, which was part of their diet. They boiled the bones, and then held for a long time soltsne that the material bought a snow-white color. The worst thing is that often the bones of animals is not enough, and the "master" complemented their works of art hideous human bones taken from the graves, located near the camp (it was dug up by wild pigs). The moral side was not interested in prisoners, it was extremely important result.



To create hulls used large bones, were on the small details of finishes, cannons and masts were cut from the tree. Wrapping paper served to cut the sails and ropes Master of hair. For the production of the most valuable exhibits rangers masters supplied ivory, tortoise shell, gold and silver ink, silk and other materials. Some models even have been equipped with a mechanism that allows the wheel to rotate, push, or guns hoist the sails. The British sold the majority of the works to cover the costs of long-term maintenance of prisoners of war, or gave them as gifts senior ranks. So, unique ships ended up in private collections and museums and after around the world. Today, they can buy only at auctions for fabulous sums, for example, in 2007, British auction house Bonhams sold a model of the ship Victoria for $ 55 000.















Source: www.kulturologia.ru