20

Mid-19th Century

POLYCHROME SCRIMSHAW WHALE'S TOOTH BY THE BANKNOTE ENGRAVER, DESCENDED IN THE FAMILY OF WHALEMAN WILLARD BROWN

Accompanied by an old typewritten note, folded up and contained in the hollow of the tooth during the consignor's entire childhood, "Scrimshaw - A Sperm whale tooth over 80 years old decorated with scrimshaw. Debby's great, great grandfather sailed on a three year whaling expedition as ships carpenter and did this work to pass the time.". Based on genealogical research, Willard M. Brown (1821-1900), who served as ship's carpenter aboard the New Bedford whaling bark Canton Packet from December 1841 to February 1845, is the ancestor referenced in the tooth and could be the identity of the hitherto anonymous Banknote Engraver.
Obverse depicts an active whaling scene of three six-man whaleboats in pursuit of a pod of seven whales, one of which is waifed and one of which is "hooked up" and spurting blood. A whaleship under sail in the background is flying a rectangular blue pennant from the mainmast. Reverse with a starboard view of a full-rigged ship under full sail being approached by a two-masted schooner pilot boat. The ship is flying a long red and blue pennant from the mainmast, an American flag off the stern, a rectangular flag diagonally bisected in dark and light triangles off the mizzenmast, and a rectangular flag quartered in opposing dark and light triangles off the foremast. The schooner is flying a rectangular white pennant with black ball center off the foremast. Delicate rope, sawtooth, pique and foliate borders encircle tip and base. The ship masts, whaleboat oars and other elements are very deeply engraved.The filigree borders, meticulous engraving and jet black pigment exemplified here are all hallmarks of the Banknote Engraver's work.
Length 5.75".
Condition: Obverse with age crack, approx. 3", extending from base into scene. Reverse with age crack, approx. 2.5", extending from base into scene, and traces of sticker residue. Other relatively small and minor cracks/chips at base, which is cut flat. Very small nick at tip.

This item not available for international delivery. Please be aware your state and local regulations and bid accordingly.

  • Provenance: Note:
    This tooth is discussed in depth and illustrated in "Was He The Banknote Engraver? Scrimshaw Shipmates aboard the Canton Packet, 1841-45" by Stuart M. Frank, published in the Spring/Summer 2021
    Scrimshaw Observer , Vol. 5, No. 2, p. 1. According to the article, Willard Brown was born in Litchfield, Maine, the eldest son of shipcarver Andrew Jackson Brown III. After his one whaling voyage, he worked in ship joinery in Kittery, Maine, ran a boardinghouse and operated restaurants.
    His shipmates on the Canton Packet included Albert Blake Trowbridge and Enard Coan, both noted scrimshanders.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

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.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide shipping quotes until the invoice had been paid in full.
In house shipping is offered exclusively though UPS. All items are shipped with UPS insurance (max. $50,000). UPS insurance is billed at $2.70 for the first $100 and at $0.90 per hundred afterwards. Eldred's charges a minium $15 handling fee per package plus actual UPS shipping charges.
COLLECTION OF PURCHASES: Delivery or shipping arrangements must be made within seven (7) days from the close of the auction for all purchases. All items must be removed from Eldred's facilities within fourteen (14) days of the end of the auction. All items remaining after fourteen days may be subject to a $15/per item/per day storage fee. No items will be released unless storage fees are paid in full. Items remaining over thirty (30) days from the close of the auction may be sold for the buyer's account minus auction and storage fees.

February 24, 2022 9:30 AM EST
East Dennis, MA, US

Eldred's

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000