Figurehead of the HMS Isis

Basic Information

FigID

F0294

InstID

Figurehead type

Figurehead

Title

Figurehead of the HMS Isis

Vessel name

HMS Isis

Type (Naval/Merchant)

Naval

Copyright owner

© UK MoD Crown Copyright 1983

Copyright notes

Current location

HMS Unicorn, Dundee

Location date

02/04/2013

Physical Information

Description

Female half-length bust, wearing a helmet and scaled armour. Her long hair falls over her shoulders. The shoulders and the base of the figure are draped and there are two rows of beads running around the body below the breasts.

Maker

Hellyer

Date made

1852

Place made

Unknown

Size

Materials

Wood

Object history

Possibly a replacement carved by Hellyer in 1852.

Vessel history

Frigate launched in 1819 at Woolwich. During 1827 as part of a squadron under the overall command of Vice-Admiral Sir John Gore, 'Isis' took part in an operation to suppress Greek piracy in the Mediterranean. The squadron attacked the pirate base on the island of Grabusa. After destroying the Greek ships, 'Isis' and 'Cambrian' collided in the narrow entrance to the harbour. Shortly afterwards 'Cambrian' went on the rocks and was lost. 'Isis' was used as a coal hulk from 1861 and was sold for breaking up in 1867 at Sierra Leone.

Bibliography

David Pulvertaft 'Figureheads Of The Royal Navy' (Seaforth 2011) p.218
Admiralty Catalogue(1911) No. 201

Ownership Information

Owner type

Public Institution

Owner name

Ministry of Defence (MoD)

Contact details

HMS Unicorn, Victoria Dock, Dundee DP1 3JA

Ownership can be cited online

Yes

Accessible to public

By appointment

Data verified by owner

No

Date verified