Object
Captain Picard's Model Ships
A small collection of meticulously crafted scale sailing-ship models—wooden hulls, varnished decks, delicate thread rigging, and tiny brass fittings—ranging from palm-sized to tabletop. They sit on a shelf in the Captain's ready room; Picard handles one with reverent, practiced motions, fingertips following ropes and masts as he speaks. The models show signs of careful workmanship rather than museum polish: fine tool marks, slight paint wear, and the patina of frequent handling.
2 appearances
Purpose
Hobbyist scale models built and displayed as tactile craft objects for hands-on assembly, study of traditional seamanship, and personal decoration.
Significance
They serve as a moral and emotional shorthand: tangible proof of human intuition, care, and craftsmanship that Picard invokes to argue against surrendering critical judgment to automated systems. The models anchor his nostalgia and internal conflict, converting private memory into a public parable that influences a pivotal command decision.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used