Engraved Porpoise Tooth, mid-19th century
Engraved Porpoise Tooth, mid-19th century
- Description
- The short length and slender proportions of this carved tooth indicate that it came from the mouth of a porpoise rather than a sperm whale. Its rough, dark and mottled surface was badly prepared for the craftsman’s sharpened tool, rendering the details of the carving difficult to see clearly.
- The obverse depicts a man standing inside a circular rope motif; his costume is reminiscent of a Near Eastern or Asian warrior, with padded pants and low hanging blouse and hair in a bun. The surface of the tooth above the figure has horizontal striations, almost like a metal file was applied. On the reverse is another man surrounded by an oval rope motif; he wears a more traditional Western waistcoat and holds a cane in his right hand. Atop his head is a tightly-wrapped turban.
- The pinprick method for preparing the line infill is evident, suggesting that the original drawings from which these were derived was in a periodical of the period. Perhaps one day the source for these enigmatic figures will be identified.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- tooth, whale
- scrimshaw tooth, whale
- scrimshaw tooth, porpoise
- Other Terms
- tooth, whale; scrimshaw
- Physical Description
- tooth, whale (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 4 1/2 in x 1 1/2 in x 7/8 in; 11.43 cm x 3.81 cm x 2.2225 cm
- ID Number
- DL.388606
- catalog number
- 388606
- accession number
- 182022
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. & Mrs. Arthur M. Greenwood.
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Maritime
- Cultures & Communities
- Art
- Transportation
- Scrimshaw
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.