Scrimshaw Sperm Whale Tooth, mid-19th Century

Description:

On the obverse of this polished sperm whale tooth, a well-dressed woman is seated sidesaddle on a spirited, prancing horse. The woman wears a tight cap and a long heavy dress; the long calf-length cape over her shoulders has traces of blue pigment. In her left hand she holds the reins; with her right hand she holds or pats the horse's neck. The horse blanket or saddle has a red and black checkerboard pattern.

The reverse of the tooth is decorated with a more conventional image of a three-masted whaleship with all sails set on a light sea. An American flag with blue star ground and red stripes flying at the stern identifies the ship's nationality. One whaleboat is inverted on deck, and another swings from davits along the port side, ready to deploy over the side into the water. Some red coloration of the sea along the hull may indicate that a whale was just cut in, bloodying the water. In the left background sails another full-rigged ship, also flying a pigmented American flag. Above the ships are two overlapping hearts with a single arrow piercing them both, encircled by a vine with bright red berries. The drawing on this tooth was freehand rather than pinpricked through an existing image, indicating a talented and experienced artist. It is one of a pair with Cat. 58035-N, both by the same artist.

Normally, a scrimshaw artists’s etched lines were infilled with lampblack to contrast with the pale background color of the whalebone or ivory. In this case, however, the artist has added red and blue pigments to vary his palette. These added colors have faded with time, making them hard to see.

Date Made: mid 19th century

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, Naval, Cultures & Communities, Scrimshaw

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: AF.58037-NCatalog Number: 58037-NAccession Number: 209543

Object Name: scrimshaw

Physical Description: scrimshaw (overall production method/technique)Measurements: overall: 5 in x 2 in; 12.7 cm x 5.08 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-5328-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1402925

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