Erik A.R. Ronnberg Jr. (1944 – )

This renowned New England ship model artist follows in the wake of his father, Erik Ronnberg, Sr., an internationally known modelmaker from Sweden who was once first mate aboard the last square-rigger to deliver a cargo in Boston Harbor. Born in 1944, Erik, Jr. apprenticed in his father’s Rockport, MA workshop before joining the industrial modelmaking firm of Atkins & Merril in Sudbury. Mentored by William A. Baker, curator of the Hart Nautical Museum, Erik apprenticed at the Newark Museum in Newark, NJ and spent four years as Associate Curator of Maritime History at New Bedford Whaling Museum.

Returning in 1973 to help his father run a hobby and model shop, Erik, Jr. also designed kits for commercial manufacturers and scratch-built models, including ten 3/8″ scale pieces, commissioned by noted marine artist Thomas Hoyne as posing pieces for his dramatic depictions of fishing schooners at sea.

Past Editor of the Nautical Research Journal and consultant to the South Street Seaport Museum in Manhattan, the multi-talented Ronnberg has also produced watercolors collected by the Peabody Essex Museum and superlative shadowbox displays done in the 19th century tradition of scale half-models set in a recessed, perspective format.

Erik is the 2002 Recipient of the Ship Modelers Association Harold Hahn Award, recognizing contributions in nautical research, publication of books and articles, quality and originality of models constructed, development of plans and drawings, participation in modeling organizations and influence on other ship modelers.

Mr. Ronnberg’s superb models can be viewed by the public at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC; Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT; Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth, MA; New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, MA; and Hart Nautical Museum (M.I.T.), Cambridge, MA. His definitive model of the schooner yacht, America, as rebuilt in 1886, is scheduled to be completed in 2002 and on exhibition at Cape Ann Historical Museum, Gloucester, MA.

The American Marine Model Gallery is proud to be the exclusive representative of this fine artist.