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The American Ship Molocka in the North Sea off Helgoland
1860
Carl Justus Fedeler (1837-1897)
Germany: Bremerhaven
Oil on canvas
frame: 34-1/2"h x 45"w x 4"d; stretcher: 27-1/2"h x 38"w x 1-1/2"d
Gift of Anonymous Donor
97.048

Marine painting of an American three-masted ship-rigged sailing vessel, the ship MOLOCKA, in the North Sea off Helgoland or Heligoland. Ship is under full sail, on a starboard tack; atop the foremast flies a blue and starred Jack; from the mainmast, a red ship's pennant inscribed "MOLOCKA"; from the mizzenmast a blue and white swallow-tailed Masonic flag; and from the gaff, the American ensign; in the distance at right, another ship is on a port tack, flying similar flags and pennants (a different view of the MOLOCKA); in the bows, the nameboard is inscribed "MOLOCKA"; painting signed by the artist in the lower right corner: "C. Fedeler/ Br Haven/ 1860"; visible on deck is a helmsman, the Master (in tall hat), the Master's wife (in blue dress), and nine deck hands, three of whom are African American; painting is mounted in a gold-leafed frame.


The Ship MOLOCKA was built in Pittston, Maine in 1857 by builder/owner Peter G. Bradstreet, and sailed out of Gardiner, Maine by Capt. Robert Norton (1826-1872), Master. The ship-rigged vessel was of 847 tons berthen, draft 19', with a double deck. Bradstreet built vessels in Pittston on the Kennebec River during the 1850s, but relocated his shipbuilding yard across the river to Farmingdale, in the 1860s. Bradstreet and Norton enjoyed a close owner/master relationship in connection with other Bradstreet-built vessels, including the WASHINGTON (built 1855), the ELLA NORTON (built 1864), and the TWO BROTHERS (built 1868). Bro. Peter G. Bradstreet (d. Sept 16, 1889) was a member of Harmon Lodge No. 32, Gardiner, ME. Bro. Bradstreet was Initiated: Oct. 9, 1860; Passed: Dec. 26, 1860; and Raised: Jan. 15, 1861. The Brig SEA was one of Norton's earliest commands (1848). Capt. Norton was killed in a railroad accident in 1872, having $1,400 in his pocket, the proceeds from the sale of his farm (Bath Daily Times, 1872). Norton was born/native of Chelsea, ME.