Gabrielle Rogers

S & G Ships in Bottles & Miniature Models

Miniature maker

The landlocked boat builder

Gabrielle is a lover of the sea
She started her craft while living on a boat
Her creations have a realistic setting

American-born but Swiss-based Gabrielle Rogers started creating ships in bottles in 2009 while living with her husband, a boat builder, on their boat. She saw a demonstration of an artist putting ships in bottles at the local maritime museum in North Carolina and was immediately intrigued by the craft. She decided to teach herself how to do this age-old sailors' craft. With a small box in the fore-cabin of their boat, she would work on her new-found passion while at anchor, perfecting her knowledge. Now based in Switzerland, she pursues her craft of the sea in a landlocked country, securing a cherished part of its maritime heritage.

Interview

Where did you learn your craft?: I am primarily self-taught. My husband showed me how to use hand tools effectively and I purchased a few books on the basics of putting ships in bottles to get started. From then on, I have developed many of my own techniques for building miniature ships.
What are your specialisations?: Anyone who takes the time and practices a little patience can put a ship in a bottle. What sets mine at a different level is that I always try to capture the atmosphere of a real ship at sea, I put a great deal of attention in placing the model in an active and realistic way.
Are people surprised by your creations?: People always ask how I put the ship in the bottle as they imagine there is some trick to it, be it the bottle was blown around the boat, or cut so it could be placed inside easier. Others think I actually build the model from start to finish inside the bottle.
What is special about carrying on such a unique craft?: It can often be hard for craftspeople to make a living, and I worry that certain crafts are disappearing. If I can carry on this tradition then I can safeguard it for generations to come and maybe inspire both builders and customers to keep this rare art alive, just as I was inspired.

Gabrielle Rogers is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2010