Scrimshaw Jagging Wheel or Pie Crimper, 19th Century

Scrimshaw Jagging Wheel or Pie Crimper, 19th Century

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Description (Brief)
Sailors not only decorated the surfaces of whales’ teeth; they could also carve them into utilitarian objects for daily use back home. Jagging wheels were designed to run around the perimeter of a pie before it went into the oven to bake. They sealed the edges of the crust against the edge of the pan or bottom crust and held in the steam heat for better, more even cooking. They could be made in any shape; this example is in the shape of the mythical hippocamp, or half-horse, half-fish. The imaginary sea creature is probably derived from the miniature sea horse found in the shallow tropical waters of North and South America.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
scrimshaw, pie-crimper
Measurements
overall: 2 3/4 in x 5 3/4 in x 2 in; 6.985 cm x 14.605 cm x 5.08 cm
ID Number
TR.59.423
accession number
219034
catalog number
59.423
See more items in
Work and Industry: Maritime
Scrimshaw
Cultures & Communities
Transportation
Art
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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