Ships, Folk Art, and Whimsey in Bottles

This is a model from the series "USS Preble" built by Jack Verducci in 1971. This is the first ship of the series, the 1813 USS Preble, a Sloop-of-War. It sails on a sea of light blue with white ships wake. It is a Sloop with a black hull and white stripe around the gun ports, and a white bowsprit with a dolphin striker. The deck is natural wood color and has 10 cannons, 3 hatches, steering pole and anchor mounted on the bow. The ship has a single mast and 5 sails. The rigging is very well done and has both standing rigging in black and running rigging in white. A long banner flies from atop the mast and an American flag flies midway on the rigging. Under the sea is a label with the following words: "USS Preble I, 1813, Built for RV Cowles 1971 by Jack Verducci." It is sealed with a wooden stopper covered with red sealing wax. Other bottles in this series are bottle ID 321, 322, 323, and 324.