African Copaifera Paneling
From Former First Class Dining Room
And Tourist Class Dining Room Vestibule
SS OLYMPIA (later MV CARIBE, CARIBE I, REGAL EMPRESS)

Items from MV REGAL EMPRESS (ex SS OLYMPIA, MV CARIBE, MV CARIBE I)

Varying Size and Condition -- Priced Accordingly

Beautiful woodwork was a hallmark of the OLYMPIA's decor. Here is the former first class dining room as built, paneled with African Copaifera wood. Photo from David Pressler's "Olympia: The Life and Times of a Greek Goddess."

British-built ships of the post war era had the most sumptuous wood paneling at a time when other nations were switching over to marinite (asbestos), melamine or even painted steel. After the "purge" of the mid-1970s when most of the grand British liners were paraded off to Taiwan for scrap, very few examples of this type of craftsmanship remained. Some ships like the former Shaw Savill SOUTHERN CROSS managed to survive but only after vast refits that stripped the woodwork away. But the former OLYMPIA was left virtually intact when she returned to service as CARIBE I in the early 1980s.. Her lobbies and vestibules, certain public rooms and a handful of cabins were aglow in some of the most stunning woodwork.

A close up of the grains. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2010.

The OLYMPIA's former first class dining room and vestibule was paneled in handsome, vividly striped African Copaifera. Patches of this paneling were blended in with the Maple, Sycamore and Mahogany woodowrk found throughout the ship. In the ship's conversion to CARIBE I, the large dining room was converted into cabins but the paneling was left in place and covered over. All of the panels are stenciled on the back with their location on the ship. Most are in excellent condition, especially for their age. Mostly minor and occasionally major flaws, chips, etc. are noted on each listing to the best of my ability.

***THIS ITEM IS SOLD***First Class Dining Room Stair Panel 26: 72 by 28 Inches. 1/2 Inch Thick. Price: $245.00 -- ***SOLD***. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2010.

***THIS ITEM IS SOLD***First Class Dining Room Stair Panel 33: 90.5 by 30.5 Inches. 1/2 Inch Thick. Some edge chips and nicks; 3.25 by 3.25 hole for fixtures. Price: $275.00 -- ***SOLD***. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2010.

***THIS ITEM IS SOLD***First Class Dining Room Stair Panel 34: 90.5 by 30 Inches. Excellent with a few small chips. Price: $315.00 -- ***SOLD***. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2010.

***THIS ITEM IS SOLD***Tourist Class Dining Room Forward Vestibule: 89 by 43.5 Inches. Top, bottom and side chips. Price: $325.00 -- ***SOLD***. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2010.

Page Added: August 23, 2010.