4621

England, Circa 1850

POLYCHROME SCRIMSHAW PANBONE PANEL ATTRIBUTED TO WILLIAM LEWIS RODERICK

Depicts an active whaling scene of several whaleboats in pursuit of five whales, one whaleboat under sail and others in various stages of capture. Some whales spouting red and/or the water is colored red around them. Port view of a whaling bark at the center of the horizon and a second ship approaching under sail in the distance. Scene framed within a thin line border. Panel pierced at top corners and threaded with rope for hanging. Includes a letter from Dr. Stuart M. Frank dated August 10, 2023, certifying the work as authentic 19th Century scrimshaw and attributing it to William Lewis Roderick.
3.75" x 6.75". With contemporary stand.
Condition: Very good condition, with crisp, rich inking and no significant wear or damages noted. Naturally occurring warp to panel.
This item is not available for international delivery. Please be aware of your local regulations regarding the sale of marine mammal parts 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:
    The Property of a Gentleman: The Estate of Peter Goldstein.

    Illustrated:
    Wandering Whalemen and Their Art: A Collection of Scrimshaw Masterpieces by Alan Granby (Hyannis Port, Mass.:, 2021), p. 161, fig. 9.5.

    Reference:
    A similar polychrome scrimshaw panbone plaque, signed by Roderick, is illustrated in Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved by Stuart M. Frank (Boston: David R. Godine, 2012), p. 69, fig. 5.5.

    Notes:
    According to Dr. Frank, William Lewis Roderick (1826-1874) served as ship's physician on at least three South Seas whaling voyages aboard 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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February 28, 2024 9:30 AM EST
East Dennis, MA, US

Eldred's

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