Particularly Fine & Large Silkwork Picture Attributed to Thomas Willis New York

A Particularly Fine and Large Silkwork Picture attributed to Thomas Willis New York, of the Barque the Lord Kinnaird, Presented by Joshua S. Tucker, the Shipping Company in New York, Probably to W. O. Taylor and Co. of Dundee in 1878. This fine and particular large ship portrait silkwork is executed on a plain blue silk background. The iron-hulled barque the Lord Kinnaird is depicted accompanied on her voyage by a tug and a cutter. The sails of the Kinnaird are silk apliques, the name of the vessel carefully embroidered on to the side and a presentation description below which reads ‘Lord Kinnaird, Dundee’ and ‘Presented by Joshua S. Tucker and Co., New York’. The piece is presented in a fine carved frame with gilt mount. Provenance Previously with Earl D. Vandekar Antiques Joshua S. Tucker and Co Active c.1876-1886, Tucker operated from offices in 54 Pine Street and, later, Lower Broadway in New York. The firm were steamship brokers and agents. According to A Souvenir of New York City, Old and New, 1919, the firm operated until 1880 when it was succeeded by the firm of Simpson and Spence, later becoming Simpson, Spence and Young. However Lloyds Register of Shipping lists Tucker as late as 1888 so this dating should be taken with a degree of caution. Our research in the American newspaper archives has produced a likely time of production for the present silkwork. The only mention of the Lord Kinnaird in the American newspapers is in 1878 when, on the 4th of May of that year, the New York Tribune records that the vessel had arrived in New York from Calcutta after a voyage of 120 days and ‘J S Tucker and Co’ were acting as agents. Since this appears to be the only known link between Tucker and this vessel, it is highly likely that the present piece was produced to commemorate this voyage and was probably presented to the ship’s owners on the return voyage. The Lord Kinnaird Launched on the 10th of February 1876, the events were described in The Scotsman, 11th of February 1876, as follows: ‘LAUNCH OF THE FIRST OF A NEW LINE OF DUNDEE VESSELS-Yesterday afternoon the first of a new line of vessels belonging to Dundee owners, and to be managed by Mr. W. Buchan Ritchie, was launched from the shipbuilding yard of Messrs Brown & Simpson, Dundee. The machinery on board is of the most approved description, embracing patent windlass, steam winch, steering gear, and steel wire towing hawser. As the vessel glided from the ways she was gracefully christened “ Lord Kinnaird” by Lady Kinnaird, amid the hearty cheering of the large crowd of spectators. The vessel is to be barque-rigged, and commanded by Captain Masson of Johnshaven. Her dimensions are as follows: Length, 195 feet; breadth, 32 feet 6 inches; depth of hold, 19 feet; and 888 tons gross tonnage’ After a long and successful career, she was scrapped in 1903 after wrecking close to Samoa.