Scrimshaw Tooth
- Description
- Women and ships were the most popular subjects for scrimshaw carved by crewmen on long, slow whaling voyages. In this deeply engraved example, a beautifully coiffed and fashionable young lady, possibly in mourning dress, has pulled a locket from her bodice and is gazing at the image of a smiling young man. The curls of her girlish hairstyle would indicate that she is unmarried, although the traditional ring finger of her left hand is not shown. The mid-19th-century date of this tooth is suggested by the style of the dress.
- Object Name
- scrimshaw
- scrimshaw tooth, whale
- Date made
- ca 1840
- maker
- unknown
- Physical Description
- scrimshaw (overall production method/technique)
- sperm whale tooth (overall material)
- wood (base material)
- Measurements
- overall: 6 3/4 in x 3 1/2 in x 2 5/16 in; 17.145 cm x 8.89 cm x 5.87375 cm
- ID Number
- TR*374506
- catalog number
- 374506
- accession number
- 136263
- subject
- Family & Social Life
- Art
- Clothing & Accessories
- Transportation
- Natural Resources
- Cultures & Communities
- Industry & Manufacturing
- Work
- On the Water exhibit
- event
- Expansion and Reform
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Maritime
- On the Water exhibit
- Exhibition
- On the Water
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- Credit Line
- Gift of Frederic A. Delano
- Publication title
- On the Water online exhibition
- Publication URL
- http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater
Visitor Comments