Largest Collection of Appleton Models Ever to be Assembled on Display in IYRS Library this Summer

The Museum of Yachting and IYRS are very proud to present an unprecedented exhibit on the exquisite ship models of Joseph Wheeler Appleton. Appleton is believed to have built fewer than 20 models during his career taking up to two years painstakingly crafting each one; and they’re considered among the most detailed, accurate and very best in the world. His models are prized in the Collections of the New York Yacht Club, Mystic Seaport and the Museum of the City of New York. He built them for the likes of gentlemen including Harold Vanderbilt, Walter Barnum, Briggs Cunningham and John Nicholas Brown.

Eight models, and possibly a ninth, the largest collection of Appleton models ever assembled will be gathered in the beautiful new IYRS library overlooking the harbor on the 4th floor of the restored Aquidneck Mill Building on the IYRS campus in Newport. Included in this exhibit will be the famous S&S schooner yachts Brilliant and So Fong, Carleton Mitchell’s 3-time Bermuda Race winner Finesterre and Rhodes yawl Caribbee, and Briggs Cunningham’s very successful 6 Metre Lucie. There will also be fascinating background information about the now little known artist and the methods used to build his flawless creations as well as a collection of the hand-built tools he fabricated in order to work in such detail on so small a scale.

The exhibit will run from June 15 through September 15. Take this opportunity to view these masterpieces before they are returned to private collections.