Clarification if possible

[suspend6]

The attached is a photo of a HMS Bounty hold door from the Anatomy series book.
On initial examination of the door, It looked like the top section had a series of vertical iron bars fitted. A close-up reveals something not so straightforward, but I am at a loss to identify. Any ideas?
(The photo is on its side. Could not figure out how to rotate it.)

 

[Y.T.]

 

[suspend6]

 

[AllanKP69]

Pick your favorite. The lattice seems to have been more common in the late 18th century with iron bars coming along right after. The following are from pages 174 and 175 in Lavery's The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War 1600-1815
Allan

 

[AndyA]

Is there any evidence that those bars are of iron? It seems odd that a wooden door would be fitted with iron bars, especially on a wooden ship. Is it more likely that those were wood turnings? That would be consistent with the alternative of wood lattices. Of course, the material doesn't make any difference in modeling the doors. Fair winds!

 

[Corsair]

Yes, I was thinking wood also, like in the lower drawing that @AllanKP69 provided.

 

[paul ron]

do you think the "bars" were just decorative or possibly for protection in some way?

 

[Corsair]

I don't know, but my guess would be both. It would keep out some flying debris during combat. Like wood splinters.

 

[AllanKP69]

I don't know, but my guess would be both. It would keep out some flying debris during combat. Like wood splinters.

I have no idea if this would help but starting around 1718 cabin bulkhead construction changed on RN vessels. Those above the water line were not fixed in place so they could be quickly removed when going into combat. Those on the orlop or platforms decks remained permanent as splinters were not a usually a problem down low. In some cases the bulkhead panels were hinged at the top so they could be swung up and away as was done on the Victory. Brian Lavery gives a lot of details on these bulkheads on pages 172-176 in The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War for anyone interested.
Allan

 

[Bilge Ratt]

These will almost certainly have been wooden. Such windows are a common feature on agricultural buildings from the Georgian and later periods.
Bear in mind that the orlop deck was a long way from the sources of fresh air; it would have been important to allow as much air to circulate as possible. Possibly they could fit a canvas curtain inside if privacy was critical.

Ratty

 

[suspend6]

My conclusion based on this very helpful discussion - the bars were most likely turned wood.
Now searching for the world’s smallest toothpicks!

 

[AllanKP69]

smallest toothpicks!

Bamboo might be a good choice as it is strong even at the smallest diameters. Split a skewer or chopstick as needed then run it through a draw plate just like making treenails. Simple and effective.
Allan

 

[paul ron]

i found very thin bamboo toothpicks at an asian market.

https://www.amazon.com/HOPELF-Toothpicks-Appetizer-Double-Points-Toothpick/dp/B0CSFYGLFP/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.s_DeghHLtvIvN28fF54WO9jpqheFJI_NR-9AEKTvmZlPOS_1NL3_IFZwqj8WXeM08-ZZQG_bLmgMEUt0_WQs8Z6ZG9pETxp15iPSiBKjiMhHeRXBHcfOerbxL4QUN3fZINfs5Sv2GX0dUvJgkax4AQvR9ATowgIhV8VOsGh9zeBz1RjhOMITMruU9Fu6IY5lxq4PYUdcZeISbloz1SiHER570eZKD7x5YoRbEFYoFMcjmaMotE4h1fzupzMUyqrokgV9F-THLwYI9-PRU3ajG5SPlfAgzpWzsohmkaFFRco.l4g827MBoLB9t76_E_WGXAImVzZeJ25KfToae4vxJkc&dib_tag=se&keywords=toothpicks%2Bbamboo&qid=1738411262&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

for larger work, bamboo skewers are great.

i can mic them later for ya.

bamboo toothpicks are 0.02"
skewers are 0.05"

 

[Corsair]

My conclusion based on this very helpful discussion - the bars were most likely turned wood.
Now searching for the world’s smallest toothpicks!

Chuck them in your drill and sand them down. Should not take long.