This very fine and elegant model represents, following research in the archives, a small frigate of the time of Louis the Sixteenth. It comes from the collections of Philippe Egalité, the king’s cousin, and is therefore from the time itself; it is however difficult to state precisely whether it represents the 1768 Flore which was used by Borda to test sea going clocks or whether it is a model of an American frigate bought in 1784 and delivered at Bordeaux.

This frigate has an extremely accurate rigging, and represents the apex of sail boat construction which will progress only very little afterwards.

Its decoration is charming, but its reproduction is intricate for a model builder not used to carving wood. The Flore, as generally all frigates, has alluring lines. These ships were faster than the men of war which they escorted and were used as scouts or cruisers.

Depending on their size, the crew went from 130 to 300 seamen.

Specifications :

Model building : advanced skills and time required

Scale of drawing : 1/75th,
three plans , four photographs, one notice.

Notice available in French or English.