Featured in this lot is this 1920s wood model of a traditional Portuguese Varino fishing / cargo boat. These vessels, which have a long maritime history, were once frequently seen along Portugal's rivers and coastline, especially the Tejo River in and around Lisbon. The shallow draft of the Varino is one of its key characteristics. This made it easy for the boat to travel through Portugal's frequently narrow and winding rivers and estuaries. It was ideal for shipping goods both inland and along the coast. The hull of the Varino has a unique design as well. It is distinguished by a raised bow and stern that showed a spoon-like shape. This layout gave the Varino stability and the ability to handle choppy waters. Wine, salt, fish, and other general cargo were just a few of the items that were transported on Varinos. In the coastal and river regions of Portugal, they were crucial for trade and transportation because they frequently had large cargo holds. In addition to being useful work boats, Varinos have a long history and cultural significance in Portuguese maritime culture. They are frequently honored during festivals and events, and some of them have been preserved as artifacts in museums, providing a window into Portugal's former maritime history. This model shows the traditional Varino shape and the iconic curved bow. The bow is decorated with flowers and an image of a blue fish and reads, "Rio Tejo". The boat features a large mast with two sails attached to it. The rest of the boat features blue, green and black colors. There is a metal anchor attached to the front as well and the back rudder can be turned. The boat needs some small repairs as one sail is partially detached from the mast and its ropes, but no other signs of obvious damage are noted. The boat measures 16" L x 3 1/2" W x 12 1/2" H and weighs 8 ounces.