A Fine and Rare Carved and Painted Pine and Composition Diorama of a Steamship, 'Dean Richmond,' American, circa 1890

The half-model set into blue painted plaster seas, against a blue painted sky, with smoke and a few clouds, the ship with multiple decks and railings, red painted windows, with red, white and blue paddlebox inscribed in ornamental lettering, DEAN RICHMOND; white painted flag poles, and one house flag, the American flag from the rear mast. In a period walnut frame with ebonized bands and gold leaf liner.

The Dean Richmond was built by the People's Line in 1865 to provide service up the Hudson going between New York City and Albany. She was 348 feet in length, and shared common characteristics with Hudson River sidewheelers - boilers on the guards aft the wheels, with stacks abreast. According to George W. Hilton, in "The Night Boat" (Berkeley, California: Howell-North Books, 1967, p.119-127), the Dean Richmond lasted long enough to be the best depicted of the big sidewheelers on the People's Line in the late 19^th century.