Whalebone and Bone Umbrella
Whalebone and Bone Umbrella
Usage conditions apply
- Description
- The bony substance from the mouths of whales known as baleen is formed of keratin, like human hair and nails. It hangs in long, parallel sheets from the upper jaws of the blue, right, and minke whales, as well as other lesser-known species. Its hairy fringe filters food from seawater.
- Dried out, baleen’s strength and flexibility made it ideal for buggy whips, corset busks, and umbrella ribs before the advent of plastic. A whale’s bone could actually be worth more than its oil. This man’s large umbrella has a wooden shaft, heavy hinged baleen ribs made in short sections, and an ivory handle. Marked “G. Hobbs, Barre,” it belonged to the donor’s grandfather, who lived in Barre, Massachusetts, until around the end of the Civil War.
- Object Name
- umbrella frame, whalebone rib
- Date made
- ca 1835-1865
- user
- Hobbs, George
- used
- United States: Massachusetts, Barre
- Physical Description
- whale bone (overall material)
- wood (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- ivory (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall open:: 103 cm x 5.5 cm; 40 9/16 in x 2 3/16 in
- ID Number
- AG.169283.01
- accession number
- 169283
- catalog number
- 169283.01
- Credit Line
- Gift of A. M. Harrington
- subject
- Whaling
- Expansion and Reform
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Fisheries
- Cultures & Communities
- Clothing & Accessories
- Work
- Industry & Manufacturing
- Natural Resources
- Transportation
- On the Water exhibit
- Art
- Domestic Furnishings
- Exhibition
- On the Water
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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