TitleMiniature replica, Windmill aboard L’Astrolabe Date2021About this objectThis working miniature windmill is a replica of the 1780s windmill abroad L’Astrolabe. The original 3m tall structure was designed by Captain Fleuriot de Langle, second-in-command to Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse on the 1785-1788 circumnavigation expedition and captain of L’Astrolabe.
As malnutrition was a common factor in long voyages, the good health of the crew was an indispensable condition for the success of maritime expedition, and one of the concerns for Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse and his second-in-command, Captain Fleuriot de Langle on their 1785-1788 circumnavigation expedition. Grains were preferred over flour for conservation reason, but manually grinding and roasting the grains was painfully laborious. It was in this circumstance that Langle introduced the windmill to L’Astrolabe. While sailors had been operating heavy millstones to manually grind grain, the result was 10 to 12 kilograms of flour that were coarse and gritty. With the windmill, 100 kilograms of good, fine flour could be produced and baked into bread, forming an essential part of the crew’s diet. Object No.2022.1Physical descriptionThe model consists of four sails made of triangular canvas sheets slipped onto wooden spokes and lashed in place with strings. The arms are slotted into a central axle, which rotates the metal rods running down the centre of the structure. The rods turn a millstone on the square base, accompanied by a wooden cut-out figure dressed in white, blue and red, representing a deckhand.
The body of the windmill is made from wooden posts with supporting crossbeams. One quarter of the side is enclosed by timber cladding up to halfway. The top 'turret' part swivels via a long handle. The object contains 47 numbered parts 2022.1a:1au. CreatorBoury, LionelDimensionsH: 80cmPlace madeAlbi, FranceMaterialwoodcanvasropestonemetal nailsSourceLa Perouse MuseumProvenance 2021 - made to order in France by Friends of Laperouse Museum Incorporated;
January 2022 - shipped to Australia;
7 March 2022 - donated by Friends of Laperouse Museum Incorporated through public subscription, with funds raised by members of the Friends. Credit lineGift of the Friends of Laperouse Museum Incorporated through public subscriptionAcquisition date7 March 2023Organisations (Detailed entries)La Perouse Museum (La Perouse, N.S.W.)CategoryMuseum | European arrivalsProduction notesAs malnutrition was a common factor in long voyages, the good health of the crew was an indispensable condition for the success of maritime expedition, and one of the concerns for Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse and his second-in-command, Captain Fleuriot de Langle on their 1785-1788 circumnavigation expedition. Grains were preferred over flour for conservation reason, but manually grinding and roasting the grains was a laborious process. It was in this circumstance that Langle introduced the windmill to L’Astrolabe. Another of Langle’s inventions was the cucurbite for distilling sea water.
