Scrimshaw Sperm Whale Tooth, 19th Century

Description:

Only one side of this little sperm whale tooth is carved, and the freehand carving is compressed into only a small area of the available polished surface. The other side is blank. On the left is a classic whaleboat with the standard six crew: four rowers, a boatsteerer at the stern and a harpooner at the bow. All of them are wearing hats. The harpooner holds up a harpoon and is ready to throw the dart into the whale. The scrimshaw artist has cleverly incorporated a crack in the tooth's surface into a line from the boat to the first harpoon, which is sticking out of a whale's back, for what is called a "Nantucket Sleigh Ride". This was slang for when a whale towed a whaleboat until it tired and rose to the water surface.

After the tow or sleigh ride, the whaleboat would row up to the exhausted whale and kill it. It was normal to use two harpoons to fasten to a whale, in case one was lost or twisted out by the whale's movements. The boat, crew and whale are in light black or brown pigment. By contrast, the water surface is pale blue, which is a rare pigment in the art of scrimshaw.

Date Made: 19th century

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Work and Industry: Maritime, Cultures & Communities, Scrimshaw, Transportation, Art

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: From the collection of Dr. and Mrs. Wilbur J. Gould

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1978.0052.35Accession Number: 1978.0052Catalog Number: 1978.52.35

Object Name: scrimshawscrimshaw tooth, whale

Physical Description: whale tooth (overall material)Measurements: overall: 5 in x 1 3/4 in x 1 1/4 in; 12.7 cm x 4.445 cm x 3.175 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-a2d6-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1349144

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