SHEILDAIC
Date1870-1920
Object number00039041
NameWaterline ship miniature
MediumWood, glass
DimensionsOverall: 560 x 860 x 310 mm
ClassificationsModels
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Cairo Walker
Collections
DescriptionThis is a model of a three-masted sailing ship named SHEILDAIC with a tugboat towing a small sailing vessel, all in a timber and glass case.HistoryB M Corrigan & Company operated a small fleet of ships and a ship chandlery in Sydney from the late 1870s to 1920. Corrigans also acted as agents for other ships and for the Tweed River Steam Ship Company. The ships served the north coast of New South Wales in the timber and sugar trades, especially with CSR sugar.
Bartholomew Corrigan was first registered as a shipowner jointly with William Reidy in 1877. Although Bartholomew Corrigan died in 1910, the company was continued by his family and became a limited company in 1914. Its shipping interests petered out by 1920, but the chandlery, on the corner of Market and Sussex streets, continued in business. Between 1877 and 1920 Corrigan’s owned or part-owned 29 ships, and acted as agent for others.
The naive model shows what is probably an imaginary ship called SHEILDAIC, a name that perhaps holds personal meaning for the model-maker. It belonged to the Corrigan family and was displayed in their dining room.
This model was made by one of Corrigan's seaman workers. Corrigan family history suggest Corrigan migrated to Australia on board this ship in 1865. However, no records exist of a ship by this name and it is thought that the name may have had some significance to the model-maker rather than to Corrigan.
SignificanceThis ship model is associated with the family history of the ship owning family Corrigan.
