Cutty Sark Clipper ship Desk Mat

The Cutty Sark was a Victorian-era tea clipper that was built in 1869 in Dumbarton, Scotland. She was designed by Hercules Linton and commissioned by shipping magnate John "White Hat" Willis. The Cutty Sark was built exclusively for the China tea trade. The Cutty Sark made eight return voyages from London to China with a cargo of tea. She was one of the fastest ships of her day. On her first voyage, the Cutty Sark made it back to London in 84 days, which was 25 days faster than any other ship that year. Up to 400 clipper ships were built, between 1840s to the early 1890 The only intact survivor is Cutty Sark, which was preserved as a museum ship in 1954 at Greenwich.