The construction of miniature objects inside bottles appears to have begun in the eighteenth century, with the most favoured object being a ship. Possibly because it was a great way for sailors to pass the time on those long sea voyages. The oldest surviving example (dated 1784) is on display at the Museum of Art & Cultural History in Lubeck, Germany, and a real big one commissioned to grace the top of the fourth plinth on Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square can now be found at Greenwich.
https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/behind-the-scenes/blog/worlds-largest-ship-model-bottle
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/apr/23/yinka-shonibare-ship-bottle-greenwich
And if your kids want to try it …
https://www.instructables.com/id/Building-A-Ship-In-A-Bottle/
