Description

A carved boxwood and brass ceremonial ship launching mallet for the P.S. Pharos.

Dated 2nd Feb 1874.

Length: 31.5 cm. Width: 14.5 cm.

P.S. Pharos, Iron Twin-Funnell Paddle steamer, Lighthouse tender. Built by Napier & Sons, Glasgow, for the Commissioners of Northern Light Houses.

Provenance: Stevenson family, by descent.

The Commissioners of Northern Light Houses most famous engineer was Robert Stevenson, whose sons David, Alan, and Thomas followed their father into the profession. The Stevenson dynasty built the majority of the Northern lights, in some exceptionally challenging locations. Their lights were some of the engineering masterpieces of their time, notably those at Bell Rock, Skerryvore, and Muckle Flugga.