The Art of Building Ships in Bottles

The first ships in bottles date back centuries though these original creations were actually placed in bottles with the spout point downward - not on the side as is usual today. The craft really exploded in the mid-19th century when improved glassmaking made bottles thinner, more even, and free of air bubbles that would otherwise distort the image of the model inside.
Jim Goodwin, a retired geologist who for 25 years, has been perfecting the maritime tradition of fitting pint-sized keels, hulls, and top sails inside glass bottles. Proud owner of his own business Carolina Ships in Bottles - a not-so-subtle shout out to his home state - Goodwin is a self-described textual kinesthetic, meaning he’s a bit of a fidgeter. So for nearly a quarter-century, he’s kept his hands busy crafting ships of all types, whether the notorious pirate vessels, famous U.S. frigates, or the many other famous ships-of-line that navigated the world’s oceans during the Age of Sail, and placing them snugly inside their own glassy worlds.
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The Art of Building Ships in Bottles

[@ihikefar]

I took a class Jim Goodwin put on at Roy Underhill’s Woodwright School many years ago. Each student made their own ship in bottle. I got to learn all the masters secrets. Fascinating class and remarkable teacher.

[@SoundBubble]

This brought back some memories. As a kid, I used to be fascinated by these and wanted my parents to buy me a ship in a bottle whenever I saw one. Always wondered how they were made, but I was still too young at the time to have internet access and nobody around me knew either, so I eventually forgot growing up. Glad this video finally solved that childhood mystery of mine. It really is a beautiful craft.

[@begun65vdal5]

I also have childhood memories and still have one tiny Vikings long ship which I managed to place into a small bottle (with a very big mouth opening- haha!)

[@arnomeeuwisse6692]

Same here...always wanted to have a ship in a bottle. I alwats saw them in spain when i was on holliday with my parents.

[@midwestboy9584]

years and years ago their was a plastic model company that produced a line of "ships in a bottle" ... you would build the ship and then place it inside a clear plastic bottle and then glue the bottom on ... I had several of these on display when I was a child during the late 60's

[@rickylovenuts7466]

Nothing is more pleasing to watch than a man completely focused on his art

[@RobertMartin-uu5ek]

😊

[@supratik.m]

and his passion, to see his labour bearing fruit. 🎉

[@TayRich93]

Ikr

[@panicfarm9874]

Porn?

[@patrickrose1221]

I honestly can't remember the last time that I've sat for so long in silence, fair play! 😆😅 Absolutely brilliant! Thanks pal 😉👍

[@allenmano]

This deserves a lot of views & likes

[@tamzidbaquee]

KZbin should also have a "love" button for videos like this

[@garetkonigsfeld2]

My grandfather would put ships and the hole port builds and all in bottles. It's definitely a dying art. Thanks for taking us along 👍.

[@billsherrard8452]

Huh? Evidently, grammar is also becoming a lost art.

[@midwestboy9584]

@@billsherrard8452 what the OP was trying to say was, he would build the ship and then build a diorama around it that included a harbor-side dock ... perfectly understood what the OP was trying to say ... apparently understanding people has "become a lost art" ... sheesh !!!!

[@MikaelaHoldeman]

You are such a brilliant craftsman. I’m almost convinced to take up the trade!!

[@rjmun580]

Fascinating work. I've only got as far as making a shipwreck in a bottle.

[@cathryncampbell8555]

Thank you for my belly laugh of the day!

[@CryptoFari]

😂

[@seanprice2990]

My anxiety levels went through the roof watching this. An absolute master of such a delicate and precise art. Great work mate

[@zubenthungkingkikon1606]

Wow sir ❤ respect the patience of the hardest things but you made it.

[@Airman_Fu]

I like how you turn off the light and come back to it tomorrow. Most of the YT videos just do cut after cut. This is great editing, nice music and an amazing build.

[@andreww6738]

Wow, that was quite fascinating to watch you do that. Seems like a very high level of enjoyable patience if you ask me! Awesome work, and thanks so much for sharing your hobby of interest with many.😂

[@HappyHarryHardon]

So the skill is miniature ship building not necessarily “in a bottle.” That little ship is just as cool without the bottle part.

[@gerardhogan3]

Greetings from Australia. This bloke has done a really good job.

[@afshanisrar8862]

I always get fascinated by sea ship and this is marvelous

[@kwinsh]

Every video is a masterpiece. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@stephen5548]

Almost magical to watch. Thank you.

[@TayRich93]

Every since i was a kid I've always loved miniature ships built like that I'd definitely collect em right along with my anime stuff

[@chuckchin253]

loved wooden ship building for decades....being 67 yrs old now had to give it up due to eye sight....hope its not becoming a lost art.......

[@HappyHarryHardon]

It’s becoming a lost art.

[@user-sq1pp8th2r]

Так бывает. В детстве не доиграешь, так потом в старости мучаешься, доигрываешь. Ну, Бог ему в помощь.

[@Mart77]

I wish i was retired old man, so i could spend my days doing stuff like that. Instead of going to work every day to create value for shareholders.

[@jefferykubitz4510]

Very beautiful. Master Craftsman.

[@donaldevans5752]

WOW what else could you say , an artist at work , i would love to know how long that took , brilliant video .

[@johnmitchelljr]

Well done. Thank you.

[@timelordflight851]

This is amazing and craft greatness well done .

[@dren106]

This video was amazing, I've always wanted to do this, I think I may give it a try

[@am3835]

Mesmerising

[@BettyRobinson-gg5tz]

It's so amazing!! I've always wondered how this was done. Thanks for sharing!!

[@beflabbergasted325]

Mesmerizing. The patience you have is incredible. Would you be able to do it while listening to some very loud trash metal band? I think you would lose your cool. It is impossible you are this calm all the time. Anyway. Great work. Congratulations.

[@davedunn4285]

what a beautiful piece and very relaxing to watch how you made such a job

[@woodgemdave]

Love it! Thanks for sharing.

[@lorispicer4598]

What an amazing craft. Very fiddly but very satisfying in the end. Looks great!👌😍👌

[@ImOnAJourney]

That was very cool! Thank you so much for this video!!

[@PopularMechanics]

Glad you liked it!

[@carlicker]

Fantastic work and the final result is outstanding! Very intresting seing the complete steps. Love the background music also, very relaxing.

[@kiniekinkin]

this was amazeballs

[@joebrown1382]

Fabulous work or I should say enjoyment. I am a model builder so I can relate with much of it.

[@flocorgi9898]

When I’m gonna be old. I’m gonna do this.

[@worldhappenings2133]

Why not now

[@mikebateman1415]

When you are old your hands get arthritis and you get shaky. Better to do it when you are young.

[@dennisneo1608]

Tomorrow is not guaranteed, so best to start now.

[@ramirogallegob]

Excellent !!!!

[@123parallax]

step 1 - drink a whole entire bottle of liquor

[@shubhampawar4760]

I can start this project😂😅

[@thesjyoungjr]

Just WOW.😊

[@alancruickshank9286]

Amazing skill

[@shyamal_2463]

Outstanding 👏🏼👍🏻

[@voolivreful]

Parabéns amigo. Sou intimista deste trabalho

[@serpentinesecrets6771]

I’ve always wanted to make one of these

[@barrybradfordlocksport]

Love it !

[@mikakarpale]

WOW! So nice, thanx for the video 👍👍

[@liamfinch4129]

Thanks

[@colinleat8309]

Fantastic! As a fellow Artist in illustration and sculpture, I have to say it's wonderful to see a craft that I've never practiced. I'm 50 and always wondered HOW you get a ship in a bottle?!?! 🤣. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome artistry! 🖖😎🤘🇨🇦

[@jorgepiccardi]

Excellent! just a few questions: - How do you place gaff and main boom? - What paper do you use for the sails? - what thread do you use?

[@PopularMechanics]

The sails are made from 32 lb cotton resume paper. And I use Gutterman hand-quilting thread. I run the thread through beeswax which will take out the kinks and it will reinforce the thread.

[@andrealeal269]

Perfect

[@madhavannambiar3600]

Wow wonderful.

[@senthilkumar-yc2ot]

Excellent job sir 👏

[@shelleibach20]

Just WOW

[@miguelsuarez8010]

Amazing. What is the glue that you apply with a brush in the cap?

[@PopularMechanics]

It's Super Glue by the brand Krazy Glue. The brush applicator gives me more control when applying glue.

[@miguelsuarez8010]

Thank you. I used that glue with model airplanes. The only drawback is that it doesn't give you any leeway in case you make a mistake, because it dries in seconds.

[@hippis563]

Dam its just butiful and an art form !

[@realitycheck908]

Amazing

[@marialong2950]

Wow.I love this so cool

[@user-hi5sk9iy3x]

Bravo Maestro!

[@ROCCOMEJIA]

WOW!!!

[@birdshenanigans8506]

Love the shorts, where from?

[@MusikChanel57]

Good job👍

[@upup329]

Hi, great job, well done. Cheers ;-)

[@richqualls5157]

Excellent work. How long did it take you ti make it?

[@valervikejunior1316]

I love the ship put in the bottle however i to do make ship in the bottle.could you tell me where can i get those miniature cannon or did you made them i would appreciate you let know thanks

[@matthewblouin4267]

They did this on Reading Rainbow once and that episode was about Lighthouses.

[@mikebateman1415]

What was the adhesive in the black tube that you used to glue the sea and the ship to the glass?

[@MsWengee]

I always wondered how this was possible

[@christianbeiso5358]

Tank you in building of Sea port of my country

[@Matlacha_Painter]

I have built ships in bottles since 1971. I have never used a “power” tool.

[@KeesAlderliesten]

I made a few whan I was around 12 to 14 years old, first a small fishing boat in a curved bottle, then a tiny ship in a lightbulb and last a big ship with 4 masts in a whine bottle. The last a gave to my granddad for his birthday and got it back years later when he died. Now, 58 years old, watching this video I'm asking myself why I stopped making them...

[@ichaelmeilech]

Wow😮😮😮

[@tetkabiberche]

what is called the material u use for the water, is it plasteline? i want to try with plasteline but im not sure if it gets dry over time and start to fall apart..crumble. edit: i just google it and i think i figure it out but nice video thx :)

[@PopularMechanics]

It's Plasticina clay by Van Aiken.

[@shilsam9506]

Equally Good camera work. Audio capture. Editing.

[@MdDhali506]

does he have a website where he sells the bottle ships ?

[@samirsurve6319]

It's awesome, love it. Which material is used for creating the sea, and where can we get it? Please give the information 😊

[@PopularMechanics]

It's Plasticina clay by Van Aiken. The colors used are dark blue, light blue, turquoise, and white. It can be found at art & crafts stores or online.

[@TheDoctorLo]

I always thought they were putting things together piece by piece in the bottle and assembling them and gluing them etc in there with these kind of special long twisters. Not that I could do this but tbh, it removes a lot from my intial impression of the skills required for something like that.

[@fatroberto3012]

Lol, I think that is kind of the point. You are SUPPOSED to think they are assembled inside the bottle. I think it is clever that the hull is in two pieces, presumably the completed hull won't fit through the neck of the bottle to confuse a viewer even more?

[@albertoburnay4820]

❤

[@gibbogle]

I wonder how many times he's made a mistake while inserting the ship and had to start again.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

Tiny, tiny shipbuilders. That's my theory.

[@valshu7644]

Ааа! Так это легко!!! Главное, бутылку подходящую найти!😂

[@ai5mi]

Αγαπητέ κύριε μπραβο σας.Ειστε εξαιρετικός.Να είστε πάντα καλά.Σταυρος από Αθηνα

[@xix94]

What's the stuff called that he uses for the sea effect its sticky and looks like candy rock

[@toumicarlos4037]

👍👍👍

[@Vallery001]

Кораблики в бутылках делают гинекологи на пенсии. :))

[@user-ib2tr4pg7y]

😊❤👍👍 love to 👍🤟💖

[@bouhmidimohamed3555]

👍👍👍👍

[@Sgt.k]

Why the background “funeral music”?

[@lisanidog8178]

Shame I had to see a stupid ad before the video you couldn’t skip!

[@abdulihsansuleman9113]

Please make ship from one piece

[@dennisneo1608]

I don't see the purpose. But it's crafty I guess.

[@opwave79]

I see a purpose.

[@Tommy_007]

Great video. I must admit that I only build ships in bottles to attract hot women.

[@Rickshaw881]

I built a ship in a bottle in my garage. It was a horendous experience. I was trapped inside the bottle with the ship and couldn't get out. My wife had to break the bottle to get me out. She hit me over the head with a telephone book and called me a bad name.!

[@bittonnoeyrilbintayok9961]

DON'T PUT MUSIC ON IT, BECAUSE NO QUALITY AT ALL...

[@truthful3777]

Back in those days Sailors on long boring vovage will carve using simple tools to build ships in their whisky bottles... Thr use of modern equipment is nothing spectacular. Why not just stamp out the parts and build millions of it for sale?

[@billsherrard8452]

Why? Is there a virtue to excluding modern tools? Is there a belief that the method of using only "simple tools" results in a superior workpiece? Or is the intent just to make the build process more deliberate and meditative? Unless you are a Quaker an just dont believe in power tools why not? I get that there are many power tools that are not affordable to everyone, but some are worth the cost compared to the labor of the equivalent manual process of whittling everything with a pocket knife when that's all you had on a "long boring voyage."

[@truthful3777]

@@billsherrard8452 Will you buy painting printed by a laser printer??? Cut and paste by renown artist. Like wise same with ship in the bottle. Why bother carving and shaping. Just CNC tue whole ship and blow the bottle over the complete ship. Why bother making the ship collapsible to enter the small mouth of bottle?

[@achitophel5852]

@@truthful3777 I think you're missing the point

[@truthful3777]

@@achitophel5852 You are missing the point, the art of making ship in the bottle started with the sailors spending time making collapsible ship and put it into the whiskey bottle. Its an ART itself. They use rudimental tools to built it. Anybody who bought this handcrafted ship will appreciate the dedication of this Sailors and the life long experience of the Sailors. What value if the ship of the bottle if the whole process was made using modern technology available in the workshop. What value or story to tell of rhe Ship in the Bottle that people buy? There is no story and thus no value.

[@midwestboy9584]

@@truthful3777 apparently, you know nothing about "glass blowing"

[@LeonelPrenollio79]

I can't stand background noise :(

[@MsWengee]

Turn down your volume…that’s all you need to do. That’s what I do instead of making these comments!!

[@somedumbidiot4971]

the "art" was lost the first time he pulled out an electric tool.

[@midwestboy9584]

so easy to do, just grab a electric saw, cut some wood and shove it in the bottle ... super easy .... AND ... why don't you POST your video of you building just the ship ... no power tools

[@youderektube1]

Ship making with Parkinson's?

[@adeharris4457]

Are you mute?

[@dspnagavlogs8143]

Non of your business..... Just enjoy the Art....

[@AvinashSingh-ow1st]

You are legend sir respect 🙏🏻 🫡