Victorian death photos.

Fascinating stuff. Curdles one's blood, too.

Google it, but I take no responsibility for the nightmares afterwards.

So, what in the world have Victorian death photos to do with this one relic here? Well, back in the 19th century, many people could afford to have their photograph taken only once in their life, specifically after their life has ended, so they would at least leave something for the other people (family) to remember them...

This relic reminded me somehow of a subject that didn't receive enough attention in life, but sure did end up as a worthy protagonist of a "death photo" (a bit decomposed, too, but that was sometimes also the case with the Victorian death photos, when no amount of make up could conceal grandma's putrefying appearance). Ghastly. I'm thoroughly enjoying writing this. :)

Anyway. I've already put a photo of this relic here on site some time ago, and she looked like an old work boat to me. Not so, for she was a wooden fishing boat, built in 1960 together with her three sisters on the island of Murter in Dalmatia, by Ivo Vodopija & sons, with the length of about 18 meters and displacement of up to 40 tons.

After the company that owned her went bankrupt in the nineties, she was bought by her present day owner, and eventually ended up at "Torpedo" fishing port in Rijeka (the name of the port reminiscent of the times when there were actual torpedoes manufactured there), where she sprung a leak and foundered in December 2014. She was raised, but never repaired; the plans to restore her as a museum piece also went nowhere, so she remained at the location just wasting away (and accumulating debts).

This photo was taken more than 4 years ago, I don't believe that there's anything left of her anymore. Only debts...