Model of an Icebreaker

anonymous, c. 1750 - c. 1807

A frame with a large row of axe-heads has been mounted on this flat-bottomed boat. Ropes are used to raise, then release the frame, causing the axe-heads to fall on the ice. The red, white and blue striped pole is the towing mast: a line attached to it enabled the icebreaker to be towed from the bank by horses or men.

  • Artwork typeship model, demonstration model
  • Object numberNG-MC-29
  • Dimensionsheight 39.5 cm x width 99 cm x depth 49 cm
  • Physical characteristicswood, brass, rope and paint

anonymous

Model of an Icebreaker

Netherlands, c. 1750 - c. 1807

Inscriptions

  • label, port side:29 former inventory label

Conservation

  • P. Borst, 1976: restored
  • Ab Hoving, november 2009: missing parts reconstructed

Provenance

…; collection Jochem Pietersz Asmus (1765-1837), Amsterdam, 1807;1HNA 2.01.29.02 Dept. Marine, Aanhangsel I, inv. no. 20, La. E no. 24. Ministerie van Marine (Department of the Navy), The Hague, 1837;2After the death of Asmus in 1837 models from his private collection remained in the Navy Model Room in The Hague and were henceforth considered an integral part of the collection of the Department of the Navy. transferred to the museum, 1883

Object number: NG-MC-29

Entry

Polychromed wooden block model of an icebreaker.

The model consists of a long pram with two wing-shaped side platforms at the rear on which capstans are placed, and a large frame balancing in a stool with an axle on the foredeck. The part of the frame overhanging the bow is weighted with a heavy wooden structure that resembles an overturned roof; a large number of axe heads have been mounted on its beams. The rear of the frame hangs above the aft deck; it can be pulled down by tugging a number of the ropes. By releasing the ropes the front section will fall and break the ice with the axe heads. This can also be done with capstans, but these were mainly used for propulsion. Alternatively the craft was towed by horses or manpower: a mast used for towing is then placed against the bulkhead of the forecastle, with a traveller running to the top. The craft has a rudder at the stern.

Jochem Pietersz Asmus (1755-1837) mentions a model of an icebreaker in his private collection in 1807.3NA 2.01.29.02 Dept. Marine, Aanhangsel I, inv. no. 20, La. E no. 24. The Amsterdam Museum has an identical model in its collection.4Amsterdam Museum, inv. no. KA 14052.

Literature

J.M. Obreen, Catalogus der verzameling modellen van het Departement van Marine, The Hague 1858, no. 29; G. Doorman, Het Nederlandsch octrooiwezen en de techniek der 19de eeuw, The Hague 1947, pp. 205-06, no. 780; R.M. Haubourdin et al., De physique existentie dezes lands. Jan Blanken, inspecteur-generaal van de waterstaat (1755-1838), exh. cat. Amsterdam (Rijksmuseum) 1987, no. 154

Citation

J. van der Vliet, 2016, 'anonymous, Model of an Icebreaker, Netherlands, c. 1750 - c. 1807', in J. van der Vliet and A. Lemmers (eds.), Navy Models in the Rijksmuseum, online coll. cat. Amsterdam: https://data.rijksmuseum.nl/200314892

(accessed 12 December 2025 12:19:40).

Footnotes

  • 1HNA 2.01.29.02 Dept. Marine, Aanhangsel I, inv. no. 20, La. E no. 24.
  • 2After the death of Asmus in 1837 models from his private collection remained in the Navy Model Room in The Hague and were henceforth considered an integral part of the collection of the Department of the Navy.
  • 3NA 2.01.29.02 Dept. Marine, Aanhangsel I, inv. no. 20, La. E no. 24.
  • 4Amsterdam Museum, inv. no. KA 14052.