The Royal Navy frigate HMS ECLIPSE served in New Zealand as part of the "Waikato flotilla" from 1863-66.  The Waikato flotilla was a group of armed and protected vessels that sailed on the Waikato River, supporting the British Forces fighting the land war.  The ECLIPSE figurehead was originally part of the figurehead collection of the Royal Navy's Chatham Dockyard, United Kingdom.  The figurehead was given to the Navy Museum shortly before the Chatham Dockyard closed in 1984 and was mounted outside the Museum building until 2002.  Extensive restoration of the figurehead has taken place in the last 25 years including repainting and replacement of the figure's cloak.

SFA 0003 (1130/1)