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CHESHIRE ANTIQUES CONSULTANT LTD
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**Monumental Maritime Oil of the Historic Steel Sailing Ship Wiscombe Park**
An evocative large-scale marine oil portraying the historic three-masted merchant sailing ship *Wiscombe Park* at sea, circa 1910-1917. Combining exceptional decorative presence with extensive British and Australian maritime history, the work is cautiously attributed to Australian ship portrait painter Reginald Arthur Borstel (1875-1922).
**Highlights**
Large-scale early 20th-century maritime oil
Attributed to Reginald Arthur Borstel
Circa 1910-1917
Oil on canvas, unsigned
Canvas approximately 59 x 90 cm
Historic three-masted steel merchant ship
Approximately 281 ft long and 2,228 tons
Built by John Blumer & Co., Sunderland
Probable G. Windram & Co. house flag
Documented Australian maritime connections
Separate Borstel *Wiscombe Park* recorded in 1917
Later Larson-Juhl moulded gilt frame
**Introduction**
The monumental form of *Wiscombe Park* fills this wide maritime composition, her tall masts and complex arrangement of sails creating a dramatic rhythm across the canvas.
The work rewards closer inspection. Numerous crew figures are represented on deck, the intricate rigging is carefully observed and the vessel's name is clearly visible upon her bow. Two distant sailing vessels reinforce the sense of an active ocean passage.
The large red house flag provides an important historical detail. Its reversed lettering appears consistent with "GW&Co", suggesting G. Windram & Co. of Liverpool. Research has additionally established a separate 1917 portrait of *Wiscombe Park* under Reginald Arthur Borstel's name.
**Catalogue Details**
Artist / Attribution: Attributed to Reginald Arthur Borstel (Australian, 1875-1922)
Title: *Portrait of the Three-Masted Square Rigger Wiscombe Park*
Date: Circa 1910-1917
Medium: Oil on canvas
Signed: Unsigned
Vessel: *Wiscombe Park*
Type: Three-masted steel full-rigged general cargo sailing ship
Builder: John Blumer & Co., Sunderland
Yard Number: 117
Launched: 4 November 1891
Completed: 1892
Original Owning Company: Ship "Wiscombe Park" Co. Ltd.
Managers: G. Windram & Co., Liverpool
Port of Registry: Liverpool
Official Number: 99361
Signal Letters: WLBP
Tonnage: Approximately 2,228 tons
Length: Approximately 281 ft
Breadth: Approximately 42.2 ft
Canvas: Approximately 59 x 90 cm
Framed: Approximately 74.5 x 105.5 x 1.5 cm
Frame: Later Larson-Juhl moulded gilt frame
**Catalogue Note**
The painting was formerly catalogued simply as English School, early 20th century. Subsequent investigation has uncovered a more compelling possible artistic context.
A separate portrait of *Wiscombe Park* recorded under Reginald Arthur Borstel is dated 1917. Although compositionally different from this canvas, it confirms that this exact ship formed part of Borstel's documented maritime subject matter.
The probable G. Windram & Co. house flag may indicate that the ship is shown in her earlier appearance before her 1911 ownership change. Since maritime portrait painters frequently drew upon photographic references, the canvas itself could have been produced later.
The attribution to Borstel and circa 1910-1917 dating are consequently presented as cautious research conclusions rather than definitive statements.
**Decorative Importance**
The actual scale of *Wiscombe Park* is fundamental to the visual character of the painting.
At approximately 281 feet long and 2,228 tons, she was a substantial ocean-going merchant sailing vessel rather than a small coastal craft.
Her three-masted full-rigged arrangement creates the commanding vertical structure of the composition and was itself becoming unusual among large commercial sailing vessels.
Presented within a later Larson-Juhl gilt frame, the painting has the scale and architectural presence required for a substantial interior.
**Reginald Arthur Borstel**
Borstel was born in Sydney in 1875 and developed a specialist practice painting identifiable sailing vessels.
His works combine documentary maritime observation with the drama of ocean-going sail and have close associations with maritime photography.
Known subjects include *John Ena*, *West Lothian*, *Port Jackson*, *Speedonia* and *Wiscombe Park*.
**The Building of Wiscombe Park**
John Blumer & Co. constructed the ship in steel at Sunderland as yard number 117.
She was launched on 4 November 1891 and completed in 1892 for Ship "Wiscombe Park" Co. Ltd.
G. Windram & Co. of Liverpool acted as managers.
At around 281 feet long, *Wiscombe Park* was designed for international deep-sea cargo work and represented a substantial example of late 19th-century British shipbuilding.
**A Distinctive Three-Masted Ship**
*Wiscombe Park* was a three-masted ship-rigged general cargo sailing vessel.
Her configuration was increasingly distinctive at a time when four-masted barques were becoming fashionable for large commercial sailing ships.
A period F. C. Gould & Son photograph preserved by Royal Museums Greenwich provides an important visual record of the vessel herself.
**International Ownership**
The ship passed to Chadwick, Wainwright & Co. in 1911.
In 1919 she entered French ownership and became *Edouard Bureau*.
She subsequently entered German ownership and was adapted for sail-training service, giving the vessel a remarkably varied working history.
**The Australian Connection**
Australia played an important part in *Wiscombe Park's* commercial career.
The vessel is documented in Australian waters during the 1910s, including 1917.
The separate Borstel portrait is also dated 1917, making this chronology particularly relevant to the attribution research.
**Flags & Historical Evidence**
The painting shows a Red Ensign and Union Flag together with the conspicuous red house flag.
The latter appears to bear reversed "GW&Co" lettering and is strongly suggestive of G. Windram & Co.
If correctly identified, it may preserve the vessel's appearance during her earlier Windram-associated period.
**Dating the Painting**
The work is cautiously dated circa 1910-1917.
The probable earlier ship configuration and the later documented Borstel connection can coexist if the artist worked from an earlier photographic source.
The precise year of execution remains open to further research.
**The Final Australian Voyage**
In 1927 *Wiscombe Park* departed Port Pirie, South Australia, carrying wheat for Europe.
After encountering severe conditions around Cape Horn she eventually reached British waters but later grounded on Twin Rocks in the Irish Sea.
Although successfully refloated, repairs were considered uneconomic and the veteran vessel was subsequently broken up.
**Wiscombe Park as an Artistic Subject**
The ship's history within maritime art extends beyond Borstel.
British marine painter Herbert Barnard John Everett boarded *Wiscombe Park* at Ipswich in 1921 and produced sketches aboard the vessel.
Royal Museums Greenwich preserves several Everett works relating directly to the ship.
This documented interest from different marine artists adds considerably to the cultural history of *Wiscombe Park*.
**Research Status**
The present canvas is unsigned and the attribution remains deliberately qualified.
Further research may clarify the house flag, identify a photographic source for the composition or provide additional evidence concerning authorship and date.
**Provenance**
Private collection, Northern England.
David Duggleby Auctioneers & Valuers, Scarborough, January 2025, Lot 4020.
Subsequently acquired by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.
Earlier provenance remains under investigation.
**Dimensions**
Framed: 74.5 x 105.5 x 1.5 cm
Canvas: Approximately 59 x 90 cm
**Condition Report**
The painting survives in historic condition with extensive craquelure, staining, surface wear and evidence of earlier restoration.
Several historic canvas patches and repairs are visible verso and correspond with repaired tears and areas of retouching. Further localised paint disturbance and loss are present.
The later Larson-Juhl gilt frame displays minor wear.
Please study all photographs carefully.
**Selected Research Sources**
Royal Museums Greenwich / National Maritime Museum.
Design & Art Australia Online.
Naval Historical Society of Australia.
Neville Pamment, *The Great Circle*, 2018.
Daina Fletcher, Australian maritime-art research.
NSW Shipping Master's Office / *Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters*.
Falkland Islands National Archives.
Historical 1917 Borstel *Wiscombe Park* record.
Christie's - Borstel *West Lothian* comparator.
Bonhams - Borstel *John Ena* and *Port Jackson* comparators.
Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales - Borstel *Speedonia*.
John Blumer & Co. / Sunderland shipbuilding research.
David Duggleby Auctioneers & Valuers.
**Shipping**
Worldwide shipping is available.
Owing to the substantial dimensions and weight of the framed painting, it will be professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials and dispatched fully insured.
International buyers are welcome. Please contact us for a destination-specific delivery quotation or to discuss any particular shipping requirements.
**Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution**
The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.
**Attribution and Research**
The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.
These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.
**Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®**
Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.
Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.
Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.
- Period: 1910
-
- Price: £8,500.00
- €9,902 Euro
- $11,507 US Dollar
- Location: London
-
- Dimensions: H: 74.5cm (29.33in)
- W: 105.5cm (41.54in)
- D: 1.5cm (0.59in)
