Ships, Folk Art, and Whimsey in Bottles

This is a model of the Santa Maria built in a 40w light bulb. The Santa Maria, a Nao, has three masts, a mainmast, a foremast, and a mizzenmast. There are 5 sails with the foresail and mainsail adorned with a large Portuguese red cross in the center. The sail on the mizzen is a triangular sail known as a lateen mizzen. The ship has a smaller topsail on the mainmast above the mainsail. In addition, the ship carries a small square sail, a spritsail, on the bowsprit. Each sail is attached to a long wooden pole, a yard, which spread the sail out across the top and held it open. It has a raised stern. A long banner flies from the top of each mast. The deck shows hatches, stairs and cabins with doors.