96

Mid-19th Century

PAIR OF POLYCHROME SCRIMSHAW WHALE'S TEETH "FIDELITY." AND "GRATITUDE"

Both depict a young girl seated on a cushion and accompanied by a dog, surrounded by a floral vine border. "Gratitude" is nude or partially clad and appears to be feeding the dog. Both titled in serifed lettering at base within a vine-bordered cartouche.
Lengths 5.75". Includes contemporary wooden stand. Height on stand 7.5".
Condition: "Fidelity" with chip at base of obverse, approx. .25" x .25". Age crack on reverse extending approx. 1" from base. "Gratitude" with three age lines/cracks extending from base, largest is approx. 1.25" and on reverse. Scattered rust-colored spotting, possibly bug excrement, and possibly removable. Both with typical age lines at tip and scattered sticker residue.
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  • Provenance:
    Barbara Johnson Whaling Collection. Collection stickers on reverses.
    A Nantucket Collection.

    Notes:
    Images are based on marble sculptures "Innocence Defended by Fidelity" and "Gratitude" by Giovanni Maria Benzoni (Italy, 1809-1873), which were illustrated in the June 7, 1851 issue of
    The Illustrated London News . One represents a little girl fallen asleep in the fields, her dog having trampled an alder that otherwise would have bit her. In the other, the girl shows her gratitude to her faithful companion by removing a thorn from his paw. Copies of the article are available to the winning bidder.

    The Barbara Johnson Collection auction catalog attributes the teeth to Edward Penniman of Eastham, Massachusetts.

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April 29, 2021 9:30 AM EDT
East Dennis, MA, US

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