Nef Sailing Ship Table Centerpieces Photos

Nefs started as silver or glass table centerpieces in the shape of sailing ships. Some had wheels added so these ships could be moved around the table both for entertainment and to deliver sweets to diners. One was a self-propelled automaton which could fire its miniature cannons.

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Silver carrack sailing ship table centerpiece from Nuremberg at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Venetian glass nef or pouring vessel in shape of ship at Corning Museum of Glass. Corning, NY.Clockwork automaton in form of medieval galleon which would travel across dining table then fire all its cannons by Hans Schlottheim of Augsburg, Germany at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.Clockwork automaton in form of medieval galleon which would travel across dining table then fire all its cannons by Hans Schlottheim of Augsburg, Germany at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.
Silver carrack sailing ship table centerpiece (1503 or before) from Nuremberg at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Venetian glass nef or pouring vessel in shape of ship (1550-1600) at Corning Museum of Glass. Corning, NY.Clockwork automaton in form of medieval galleon which would travel across dining table then fire all its cannons (c1585) by Hans Schlottheim of Augsburg, Germany at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.Clockwork automaton in form of medieval galleon which would travel across dining table then fire all its cannons (c1585) by Hans Schlottheim of Augsburg, Germany at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.
Detail of firing cannons on clockwork automaton of medieval galleon by Hans Schlottheim of Augsburg, Germany at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.Silver galleon nef from Germany as table centerpiece at Hill of Tarvit Mansion. Cupar, Scotland.Silver Nef for opening of Suez Canal by Fannière Brothers of Paris at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.Detail of silver Nef made for opening of Suez Canal at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.
Detail of firing cannons on clockwork automaton of medieval galleon (c1585) by Hans Schlottheim of Augsburg, Germany at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.Silver galleon nef (19thC) from Germany as table centerpiece at Hill of Tarvit Mansion. Cupar, Scotland.Silver Nef (table centerpiece in form of ship) (1869) for opening of Suez Canal by Fannière Brothers of Paris (shown London Expo 1871 & Paris Expo 1900) at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.Detail of silver Nef (1869) made for opening of Suez Canal at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.
Silver model sailing ship nef centerpiece on wheels in dining room at Haddo House. Methlick, Scotland.Silver galleon nef in dining room at Glamis Castle. Angus, Scotland.Table centerpiece with galleon nef in dining room at Glamis Castle. Angus, Scotland.Silver sailing ship centerpiece in officer's mess on Royal Yacht Britannia. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Silver model sailing ship nef centerpiece on wheels in dining room at Haddo House. Methlick, Scotland.Silver galleon nef in dining room at Glamis Castle. Angus, Scotland.Table centerpiece with galleon nef in dining room at Glamis Castle. Angus, Scotland.Silver sailing ship centerpiece in officer's mess on Royal Yacht Britannia. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Gilded silver drinking game in form of St George Dragonslayer by Jakob I Miller from Augsburg at Bavarian National Museum. Munich, Germany.


Gilded silver drinking game in form of St George Dragonslayer (c1615) by Jakob I Miller from Augsburg at Bavarian National Museum. (The base contains a wind-up mechanism to roll this centerpiece across the table. The diner closest to where it stopped had to open the head & drink the wine inside.). Munich, Germany.


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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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