Natural Resources

Ivory and Bone Yarn Swift

Description

Swifts, or yarn-winders, were used in the home in place of an extra pair of hands. They held skeins of yarn or thread while it was being wound onto spools or rewound into measured lengths. This is a particularly large example, which fastened to the edge of a table with the clamp on the bottom.

date made

19th century

maker

unknown

ID Number

TE.T03311.000

catalog number

T03311.000

accession number

59652

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Sperm Whale Tooth Watch Stand

Description

Scrimshaw known to have been made specifically for men is comparatively rare. This unfinished tooth was hollowed out at the back to carry a gentleman’s pocket watch inside, perhaps set on a wardrobe, a bureau or a dressing table overnight.

Patriotic imagery was very popular on American scrimshaw. At the top is a large eagle in flight clutching arrows and an olive branch; the hole for the watch is framed by a simple scalloped line. The space at the bottom was probably reserved for the owner’s initials or possibly a date, and the two holes were likely drilled for ivory buttons. The piece was unfinished when it was donated in 1875 by J. H. Clark of Newport, R.I.

date made

19th century

Associated Date

collected

ID Number

DL.024905

catalog number

024905

accession number

4331

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Ship's Medicine Chest

Description

Starting in 1790, American merchant ships larger than 150 tons and with more than 10 crew members were required to have medicine chests with contents assembled by an “apothecary of known reputation.” These had to be accompanied by instructions for the administration of each medicine. Most commonly, either the captain or first mate administered pharmaceutical products to any crew in need.

This example has labels from the ports of Baltimore, Maryland; Mamaroneck, New York, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, indicating it was replenished more than once over its useful life.

Date made

19th Century

maker

Gray Telephone Pay Station Co.

ID Number

MG.302606.154

catalog number

302606.154

accession number

302606

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Whaler's Shoulder or Darting Gun

Description

By the later 19th century, guns had replaced most hand harpoons and lances, since they were far more efficient and deadly to the prey. They also could be shot from a safer distance from the prey than the hand tools could be wielded. The darting gun was one of the more popular types. Loaded with different darts, this versatile weapon could be used both for harpooning and killing whales.

This particular gun was displayed at the 1883 International Fisheries Exhibition in London, England. After the display ended, it was donated to the Smithsonian by its inventor, Capt. Eben Pierce of New Bedford, Mass.

date made

1880s

guns replaced hand tools

late 19th century

displayed at the International Fisheries Exhibition

1883

maker

Pierce, Eben

ID Number

TR.316550

catalog number

316550

accession number

66767

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Whaler's Allen's Gun Harpoon

Description

In the later 19th century, guns with explosive charges shooting the harpoons took the place of hand tools for catching and killing whales. They were much safer, for they could be shot at a whale from greater distances than a hand lance could be applied. They also penetrated the whale’s skin deeper and were harder for the animal to dislodge.

Gun harpoons were also far more efficient, for the steam whalers could approach the prey directly and did not need labor-intensive whaleboats and their highly trained crews any longer.

Designed to be fired from a shoulder gun, this nonexplosive style of harpoon was invented by Oliver Allen of Norwich, Conn. to fasten to whales prior to killing.

date made

mid-1800s

harpoons replaced hand tools

late 19th century

patentee

Allen, Oliver

inventor

Allen, Oliver

ID Number

AG.056230

catalog number

056230

accession number

012333

patent number

5949

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Whaler's Explosive Lance

Description

Explosive lances were designed to kill a whale by exploding inside its body. Many different types were invented in the late 19th century. When they worked properly, they were extremely efficient.

They could either be shot out of guns or set at the end of darting guns. These devices resembled harpoon handles, to which the explosive lances were fixed. Once a plunger touching the whale’s skin moved a specific length, it triggered an explosive charge that shot the lance into the whale’s body.

date made

late 1800s

patent date

1879

explosive lances were invented

late 19th century

patentee

Pierce, Eben

manufacturer

Brown, Frank E.

ID Number

AG.316544

catalog number

316544

accession number

066767

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Bone Dice

Description

Gambling usually was banned aboard whaling ships, on the grounds that it could cause too much strife among the crew. But “bones” or dice were easily concealed from a ship’s officers, and crews found out-of-the way places to spend their free time wagering their earnings, tobacco or other assets.

date made

19th Century

ID Number

AG.024849.3

catalog number

24849.3

accession number

1875.4423

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Scrimshaw Panbone Port Scene

Description

The absence of much pinpricking in this elaborate panbone picture indicates a highly skilled scrimshaw artist who was able to sketch the fantastic port scene freehand. The presence of palm trees indicates a warm climate, dominated by naval warships in a fortified harbor with its own lighthouse. Military camps dominate the land, and a smaller factory or mill town on the bottom of the scene is defended by a partial stockade.

The artist has left no clues for the specific location of this beautifully detailed landscape, although the palm trees suggest somewhere in the vicinity of the equator.

date made

19th century

1800s

ID Number

DL.374479

catalog number

374479

accession number

136263

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Corset and Whalebone Scrimshaw Busk

Description

For much of the 19th century, ladies’ fashion required very small waists. The most common way to achieve this was to wear a tightly laced corset, which could be adjusted according to the specific dress it accompanied. Like this example, many corsets were handmade to fit an individual, although they were also available in shops.

One of the most intimate pieces of scrimshaw a whaleman could produce was a bone or baleen busk, or corset stiffener. These were carved and given to a crewman’s loved one, who then inserted it into a matching sleeve on her corset as a unique memento of her beloved’s feelings.

Each of these busks has a cityscape etched into one side. The other side of one has eight pictures, topped by a portrait of a beautiful young woman. The other has a plaintive love poem on the back.

date made

mid-1800s

collected

1951-06-29

fashion

19th century

ID Number

TR.388604

catalog number

TR*388604

accession number

182022

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Corset and Whalebone Scrimshaw Busk

Description

For much of the nineteenth century, ladies' fashion required very small waists. The most common way to achieve this was to wear a tight laced corset, which could be adjusted according to the specific garment it accompanied. Like this example, many of them were handmade to fit an individual, although they were also available in shops.

One of the most intimate pieces of scrimshaw a whaleman could produce was a bone or baleen busk, or corset stiffener. These were carved and given to a crewman's loved one, who then inserted it into a matching sleeve on her corset as a unique memento of her beloved's feelings.

One side of this whalebone busk contains three cityscapes, two of which have busy ports with lots of shipping. The other side has eight vertical pictures, topped by a full frontal portrait of a beautiful young woman. She may represent the recipient of this busk. Below her is a city scene with multiple church steeples over a flag in a precinct. A multi-colored circular geometric pattern is at the center, above a garden scene over a delicate basket of flowers. Next is a three-masted warship, and at the bottom is a large rural villa overlooking a walled garden. Can these pictures be woven into a story?

date made

mid-nineteenth century

mid-1800s

fashion

19th century

ID Number

DL.374478

catalog number

374478

accession number

136263

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Scrimshaw Ivory Jagging Wheel

Description

Pie crimpers or jagging wheels are among the most common scrimshaw items carved by American 19th century whalemen. They were useful, as well as decorative kitchen implements. The fluted wheel was used to cut dough or seal the top of a pie crust to the sides before baking.

This example’s shaft is in the form of a snake or sea serpent, with a tongue in the shape of a three-tine fork. The fork was used to decorate or poke holes in the upper pie crust to vent the steam created by baking.

date made

19th century

Associated Date

19th century

ID Number

DL.388597

catalog number

388597

accession number

182022

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Corset and Whalebone Scrimshaw Busk

Location

Currently not on view

Date made

1825 - 1835

fashion

19th century

ID Number

CS.287645.001

catalog number

287645.001

Data Source

National Museum of American History