4080

Circa 1847-1856

LARGE SCRIMSHAW WHALE'S TOOTH BY WILLIAM LEWIS RODERICK

Depicts "Venus pleurant Adonis" (Venus mourning Adonis), a classical mythological scene after the painting by Netscher and the engraving by Claude Niquest. Venus's mortal lover Adonis was gored and killed by a boar while hunting and she turned him into a flower. Seen here, Venus gazes upon the flower (Adonis) while seated on a rock, her hands clasped over her breasts. Very finely engraved and shadowed, and deeply scored longitudinally around the tooth, all typical of Rockerick's work. Reverse unpolished. Includes a letter of authentication from Dr. Stuart M. Frank, director of the Scrimshaw Forensics Laboratory.
Length 8".
Condition: **This item is not available for international shipping. Please also be aware of your own local laws and regulations and bid accordingly.**

The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact Eldred's before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction. 

  • Provenance: Notes:
    William Lewis Roderick (1826-1874) served as ship's surgeon on three London South Sea whaling voyages in the bark
    Adventure from 1847 to 1856. Originally believed to be Welsh, current research indicates Roderick was English and worked in London as a physician/dentist. His meticulously detailed work is considered some of the finest of British scrimshaw.

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We require prompt payment and removal of your purchases as stated in Paragraph 12 of the Conditions of Sale. If you plan to pick up your purchases, please call ahead and we'll make every effort to have your items ready. Our physical address is 1483 Route 6A, East Dennis, MA. Pick up of smaller items at our Mystic, CT location is also available with advance notice.
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August 10, 2023 9:30 AM EDT
East Dennis, MA, US

Eldred's

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