NEW YORK, NY.- Bonhams announces the upcoming auction of Important Maritime Paintings and Decorative Arts on Thursday, Jan. 28 in New York.

Leading the sale is a painting by James Edward Buttersworth (1817-1894) and a model of a 120-gun ship (1841). The oil on canvas signed work by Buttersworth, estimated at U.S. $300,000-500,000, is of an American clipper ship “Black Warrior” that first sailed from New York to London, then Australia, covering three continents in the initial years after its launch. The English-born painter is one of the foremost maritime artists of the 19th century.

“Important Maritime Paintings is one of the most interesting sales that Bonhams presents. It is tightly curated, and represents masterpieces by some of the most prominent maritime painters, including James E. Buttersworth, Robert Salmon, Montague Dawson, Jack Gray and Antonio Jacobsen, among other American, British and European artists,” said Maritime Art Specialist Gregg Dietrich.

The sale also features an impressive dockyard presentation model of the “H.M.S. Trafalgar”, estimated at U.S. $70,000-100,000. She was a British first-rate ship launched in 1841 and the last ship of the successful Caledonia class. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert attended the launch, and it was estimated that 500,000 people came to watch the event. The model is detailed with anchor arms that have cat-heads drawn at the end and stem and head rails supporting a figurehead of Lord Admiral Nelson.

“Each piece is a vignette into history, representing famous ships, documenting historic moments, and illustrating the importance of the maritime industry to the world as we know it today,” Dietrich said.

Other auction highlights include:

James Edward Buttersworth (1817-1894), America's Cup Race 1887; Volunteer v. Thistle, estimate U.S. $60,000-80,000
Volunteer was a centerboard sloop designed by Edward Burgess and built by Pusey & Jones Shipbuilding Company at Wilmington, Delaware in 1887. She was built for General Charles J. Paine of the New York Yacht Club and was the first America's Cup yacht with a steel frame. Volunteer easily defeated the 1886 America's Cup defender Mayflower during the trials for the 1887 Cup. She went on to win both Cup races on September 27 and 30, 1887, against the challenger Thistle.

Joseph B. Smith (1798-1876), The sloop yacht Rebecca off New York, estimate U.S. $20,000-30,000
In 1857, James Gordon Bennett Jr. raced Rebecca, a 77-ton, 72-foot centerboard sloop, in the Annual Cruise of the New York Yacht Club, during which he was elected to membership, at age 16, making him the youngest member ever admitted. Rebecca is recorded at or near the top of the racing results on many occasions up until 1861. Rebecca was offered to the United States government for use by the Treasury Department during the Civil War in 1862, and in turn, President Lincoln offered young Bennett a place as lieutenant in the Revenue Service.

The Important Maritime Paintings and Decorative Arts sale totals 109 lots, which include other works by James Edward Buttersworth and Antonio Nicolo Jacobsen, a variety of nautical clocks and ship models.