Launch 1929 Carrina, R.J. Perkins Whitstable.
Great news, yesterday I got a picture of the official launch of the Carrina. One I’ve never seen before. One of her former owners sent it to me.
Have a look. With great grace Carrina went down from the slipway in Whitstable. With this launch it all started. All her adventures. All the fun she donated her crew and passengers.
In a couple of weeks I’ll make a new page on the renewed site of Carrina.
On page 271 and 272 is a review of Carrina’s wishbone.
In Yachting World Magazine of that same year 1935 have been published an article about the manufacturing of the wishbone at the yard of Laurent Gilles.
You can see this page on my Carrina website. http://carrina.nl/history/#
The interior of the Carrina is made in the era called Art Deco. Art Deco is often anecdotally dated from 1925 when the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes was organized to showcase new ideas in applied arts. Deco emphasizes geometric forms: spheres, polygons, rectangles, trapezoids, zigzags, chevrons, and sunburst motifs. Elements are often arranged in symmetrical patterns. Modern materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, Bakelite, chrome, and plastics are frequently used. Stained glass, inlays, and lacquer are also common. Colors tend to be vivid and high-contrast. Elements which are a originally shown in the interior of the Carrina.
In those cases when I’m renovating some parts of her interior, I often consider if the existing interior elements still fits in the overall view of her history.
In my opinion Carrina is a living piece of history which is formed during all her periods during her live. Her extensive use in different cultural periods in the past 100 years makes her unique. Makes her what she is, formed her character and exposure. So its not my aim to replace everything into the prewar period of the Thirties. Her post war period in the charter business is as much important as her period in the Thirties.
When I consider to renovate and replace an item, or even not replacing. I always have in mind the functionality of that item in the different periods in Carrina’s lifetime. What counts is, what is the uniqueness of the object and descibes the period of Carrinas life best. For example In the guest cabin which I am renovating momently, I’ll have in place the typical outlet for electrical shavers, because they where an outstanding item of luxury in the sixties for charterboats. But the cabin light, a moderate item from the eighties I suppose, is not representing a certain period, Thus this cabin light I wanted to have it replaced in an original one from the Art Deco era.
And I found a marvelous piece which will fit in the overall sphere of the renovated cabin as if its from Carrina’s date of birth. Its a small Art Deco Bakelite Wall mounted reading light. The glass cylinder swivels to allow access to bulb. Condition is excellent with no chips or cracks. Country of origin unknown but too well made to be French so my guess would be UK or Germany.
