Whalebone and Bone Umbrella

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.

Date Made: ca 1835-1865

User: Hobbs, George

Used: United States: Massachusetts, Barre

Subject: WhalingRelated Event: Expansion and Reform

Subject:

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

Related Web Publication: http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater

Related Publication: On the Water online exhibition

Credit Line: Gift of A. M. Harrington

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: AG.169283.01Accession Number: 169283Catalog Number: 169283.01

Object Name: umbrella frame, whalebone rib

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

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-b710-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_862121

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.