Reviving Maritime Glory: Mastering Ship Models in Madagascar

Le Village, a model ship-making company in Madagascar, meticulously recreates historical vessels, including the 17th-century Soleil d'Orient, with expert craftsmanship. The company caters to elite collectors, including royalty, and aims to spread the craft through a woodworking school and possibly a maritime museum.

A French trading ship that sank in the 17th century, laden with treasure, is being meticulously resurrected in a workshop in Madagascar. Each stroke of Rafah Ralahy's sander contributes to the revival.

Ralahy, a 30-year veteran craftsman at Le Village, knows the art of creating history in miniature form can't be hurried. Precision is paramount, especially when replicating the Soleil d'Orient, a French East India Company ship that sank in 1681.

At Le Village, models, some costing up to $10,000, grab the attention of royals and collectors worldwide. Amid economic challenges, the new owners aim to preserve and expand this unique crafting tradition by establishing a woodworking school and a maritime museum.