Circa 1950's "S.S. Normandie" Passenger Ship Folk Art - Made Entirely of Pipe Cleaners!

This unique model of the tragic S. S. Normandie is made entirely of pipe cleaners and paint, by an unknown person of great imagination and patience! We have not attempted to count the amount of cleaners used to produce this remarkable marine collectible, but it must run into the many hundreds! We believe that it was in all likelihood constructed in the early 1950's, and was found in New York where this great liner met its fate in a questionable fire. Unfortunately, she only made one trip, which was her maiden voyage, and remained in New York because it was feared that if she returned to France, she might be sunk by German submarines. After the fire, she was eventually scrapped where she lay. This unique example of art measures 33" x 4-1/2".