Model of 1620 Danish frigate donated to Tranquebar Maritime Museum

The Tranquebar Maritime Museum in Tamil Nadu has received a model of Elephant, a Danish frigate believed to have been the first Danish ship to reach Tharangambadi in 1620. The model was donated by the Danish Tranquebar Association during an event held around World Tourism Day. Poul Petersen, the association’s president, and vice-president Knud Helles presented it to museum director R.

Sankar. Other association members also attended. Historical accounts cited by the association say Elephant was part of a fleet comprising two warships and three merchant ships.

The expedition sailed from Denmark with the aim of establishing trade links with South Asia and was commanded by Admiral Ove Gedde. The fleet reached Tharangambadi on September 13, 1620. Gedde later entered into a treaty with the Naik of Thanjavur and began construction of Fort Dansborg in the coastal town.

The model was built in Denmark by the Koge Maritime Model Builders’ Guild. Kai Funch, who made it, was felicitated during the presentation. Petersen said the model represented the longstanding friendship and cooperation between India and Denmark.

He said the association wanted to support the museum because it presents both Danish and Indian history. The museum’s receipt of the model adds a physical representation of the ship to an institution dedicated to the maritime history associated with Tharangambadi. The source material does not provide further details about the model’s size, display location or the museum’s future plans for it.