Handcrafted "Sea Witch" Clipper Ship Model with Custom Display Case & Stand

Handcrafted "Sea Witch" Clipper Ship Model with Custom Display Case & Stand

Bring a piece of legendary maritime history into your home, office, or collection with this breathtaking, custom-built model of the famous Sea Witch clipper ship. Completely handcrafted by lifelong seaman William Flender using only a jackknife, this exceptional piece is a true labor of love and a masterclass in nautical folk art.

The ship features stunningly intricate rigging and a beautifully painted hull (black with a red bottom and teal/white accents), capturing the majestic essence of the mid-19th-century vessel. The model comes fully protected in a large glass and wooden display case, resting securely on a custom metal stand. A framed plaque detailing the ship's incredible history is also included.

Product Highlights

• Master Craftsmanship: Painstakingly carved and constructed by hand using a jackknife by William Flender, who spent a lifetime at sea after shipping out on a coastal schooner as a young boy.

• Complete Display Setup: Includes the ship model, a protective wooden/glass display case, and a sturdy metal floor stand.

• Historical Plaque: Comes with a framed, handwritten history of the Sea Witch to display alongside the piece.

• Impressive Scale: Spanning over 5 feet in length, this museum-quality display is guaranteed to be a magnificent focal point in any room.

Dimensions

• Clipper Ship Model: 40” H x 63” L x 21” D

• Wooden Display Case: 50” H x 73” W x 24" D (2 ft. Depth)

• Metal Stand: 35” H x 73” W x 24" D (2 ft. Depth)

The History of the Sea Witch

Built in Manhattan at the foot of 9th Street in 1846 by Smith & Dimon, the 908-ton Sea Witch was renowned as one of the fastest clipper ships ever constructed. On her maiden voyage, she sailed from New York to Hong Kong in just 104 days. She regularly broke speed records, once returning from Whampoa to New York loaded with tea, spices, and porcelain in an astonishing 77 days.

Her later years were as dramatic as they were fast. On her 7th voyage, her foremast was struck by lightning off the Cape of Good Hope. During the ensuing storm, her captain, Captain Fraser, was murdered by his First Mate. The ship's story came to an end on March 28, 1856, when she struck a reef 12 miles outside of Havana, Cuba, and sank. Thankfully, Spanish steamers rescued all passengers and crew, with no reported lives lost.