Bone Seam Rubber, 19th Century
Bone Seam Rubber, 19th Century
- Description
- Seam rubbers were commonly made aboard whaling ships during leisure time. They were used by sail makers to smooth and flatten a seam in heavy sailcloth, so that it could be sewn. The handle of this example was turned on a lathe, and on the handle’s crossbar is a symbol (probably of ownership) in the form of a backwards “L”. The sharp end does not show any signs of wear, indicating that it was probably carved as a toy or souvenir rather than a working utensil in a sail maker’s tool kit.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- smoother, seam
- date made
- 19th century
- Physical Description
- bone (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 1/2 in x 1 1/4 in x 4 in; 1.27 cm x 3.175 cm x 10.16 cm
- ID Number
- DL.388973
- catalog number
- 388973
- accession number
- 182022
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Arthur M. Greenwood
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Maritime
- Cultures & Communities
- Scrimshaw
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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