AN HISTORICALLY INTERESTING BUILDER'S MODEL OF THE JAPANESE MAIL STEAMERS YAMASHIRO MARU AND OMI MARU, BUILT BY SIR W.G. ARMSTRONG, MITCHELL & CO. FOR THE NIPPON YUSEN LINE, 1884

the laminated and carved hull painted pink below waterline with black topside, white boot top and decorative gilt dragons to bow, boarding companionway, white lined decks, with silvered, oxidised and wooden fittings including anchors with studded chains and winch, wood capped deck rails, forward bridge with navigation lights, binnacle and telegraph, companionways, ventilators, cutaway masts, belaying rails and pins, main bridge with helm, stayed funnel with insignia, engine-room lights, six fitted boats in davits, saloon lights, deck house, emergency helm, coal chute covers, and other details, mounted on turned gilt brass column in mahogany glazed display case with ivorine builder's plate -- overall measurements 25½ x 87 x 21½in. (65 x 221 x 54.5cm.)

This lot will be available for viewing at Imperial Road

Designed as a pair of essentially identical sisters, Omi Maru and Yamashiro Maru were built in Sir William Armstrong, Mitchell & Co.’s ‘Low Water’ Yard, on the Tyne, in 1884. Ordered by the recently established Japan Mail Steamship Company or Kyodo Unyu Kaisha (KUK), they were constructed of iron throughout, measured 301 feet in length with a 37.5 foot beam, and were powered to 14 knots by 2-cylinder surface-condensing compound engines by the Wallsend Slipway Company of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Omi Maru (Yard no. 468) was launched first, on 27th March 1884, and registered at 2,473 tons gross (1,533 net); Yamashiro Maru (Yard no. 467) followed soon after and was registered at 2,528 tons gross (1,567 net). In addition to useful cargo space, each vessel had ample and well-appointed passenger accommodation in three classes and both entered service together. KUK had been established in 1882 and, from the outset, had received a state-subsidised mail contract. However, just as the two new steamers were nearing completion, the Japanese government came to the decision that it was uneconomic to continue subsidising two rival companies, with the result that KUK was amalgamated with its slightly older competitor Mitsubishi Shokai (founded 1875), to form the new company of Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK). Thus, both Omi Maru and Yamashiro Maru began their successful twenty-five year careers working for what would, in the future, become one of the world's greatest shipping conglomerates, and with one of them, Yamashiro Maru, achieving significant individual celebrity.

Between 1885 and 1892, Yamashiro Maru ran a pioneering transport service from Yokohama to Honolulu for impoverished Japanese emigrants, docking in Honolulu with her first ‘cargo’ of 978 labourers on 17th June, 1885. Over the next few years, she carried some 10,000 migrant workers to Hawaii until, in 1894, she and her sister Omi Maru were commandeered by the Japanese government for active service as “torpedo ships” following the outbreak of war with China. So successful were the sisters in this role - and so easy had they been to adapt for it - that Armstrong, Mitchell, their builders, received considerable acclaim in Japan which soon resulted in new orders for a number of expensive purpose-built warships. Released from war service towards the end of 1895, Yamashiro Maru was then selected as the flagship to inaugurate NYK’s new Yokohama–Melbourne service in 1896, with Omi Maru and a third ship joining the route soon afterwards. On her maiden run, Yamashiro Maru left Yokohama on 3rd October and proceeded to Hong Kong via Kobe and Nagasaki. Clearing Hong Kong on 17^th October having loaded additional cargo, she was in Australian waters on the 27th and was greeted in Brisbane, her first call, by a huge crowd and a civic reception. The enterprise proved an instant success and the name of Yamashiro Maru immediately became synonymous with the new service from Japan.

In 1904, Japan found herself at war again, this time with Russia, and Yamashiro Maru was once more pressed into service, on this occasion as a hospital ship. Released at the end of 1905, she returned to her popular Australia run for four more years until laid up, with her sister Omi Maru, when the company decided that the sisters had become obsolete. Sold for scrapping, the pair remained together till the last and were broken up alongside each other at Osaka in March 1910. Without doubt, the sisters, most especially Yamashiro Maru, were the pride of the Japanese Merchant Marine in their day and it seems a pity that their names are not better known.

END OF SALE

Next Sale: 28th April 2020 closing 28th February ~ Entries Now Invited.

Condition Report

Fine overall condition comensurate with age, some minor components such as belaying pins etc. missing, model has been cleaned and case repaired within the last 7 years.

We are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of this property. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Charles Miller Ltd is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD “AS IS” IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE.