119

Circa 1840

PAIR OF POLYCHROME SCRIMSHAW WHALE'S TEETH WITH WHALING SCENES

Edge of one tooth with a unique bird's-eye view of a whaleboat with its crew overboard, presumably having been stoved by the nearby whale spouting blood. Obverse depicts a whaleship and a whaleboat under sail. Reverse depicts a whaleship and a whaleboat approaching a surfaced whale that is spouting blood. A whaleman is prominently depicted at the bow of the whaleboat, iron in hand. Whaleships on both sides flying assorted pennants and flags. Other tooth with near mirror-image scenes of a whaleship flying an American flag off the stern and a whaleboat under sail. The four whaleships depicted across both teeth all have prominent billetheads and deeply stippled points on the sails and the hulls. Coloring comes mostly in the whale spouts. Wonderful patina.
Lengths approx. 6.25".
Condition: Both with old chips at tips, not impacting scenes, and some chips, cracking and age lines at base.

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  • Provenance:
    Nina Hellman Antiques, Nantucket, Massachusetts, 1998.
    The Collection of Michael Gill.

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August 19, 2021 9:30 AM EDT
East Dennis, MA, US

Eldred's

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