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6035
1830s-1840s
SCRIMSHAW WHALE'S TOOTH BY THE LOCKET ENGRAVER
Obverse depicts a characteristic Locket Engraver portrait of a dark-haired young woman gazing at a locket portrait. Woman with bows in her ringlets, a Maltese cross at her neck, and a puffy-sleeved dress with bows and lace trim. The locket, suspended from her neck on a long cord, contains a portrait of a man. "Melintha" in script lettering in a small panel at base. Reverse with two fine ship portraits, one identified as the "James" and the other as the "York Town". Both ships are flying assorted flags and pennants, including an American flag flying off the gaff.
Length 5.75".
Condition: Some loss of inking, mostly on obverse. Base cut mostly flat, with small chip near edge.
**This item contains animal and/or plant material and is not available for international delivery without CITES and other necessary permits, licenses, and certificates. Obtaining the appropriate documentation is the sole obligation of the buyer. Eldred's is not able to assist with obtaining the appropriate documentation, and we offer no assurances that the documentation can be obtained. Please be aware of current international, domestic and your own local 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.
**This item contains animal and/or plant material and is not available for international delivery without CITES and other necessary permits, licenses, and certificates. Obtaining the appropriate documentation is the sole obligation of the buyer. Eldred's is not able to assist with obtaining the appropriate documentation, and we offer no assurances that the documentation can be obtained. Please be aware of current international, domestic and your own local 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.
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Provenance:
Eldred's, The Marine Sale, August 4-5, 2022, Lot #3032.
The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Miklos.
Notes:
A similar example is illustrated in Scrimshaw and Provenance: A Third Dictionary of Scrimshaw Artists by Stuart M. Frank (Mystic, Ct.: Stuart M. Frank and Mystic Seaport Museum, 2013), p. 165, fig. 13. Frank writes that Judge Paul Vardeman coined the moniker "Locket Engraver" after identifying six teeth in public and private collections attributed to the anonymous artisan. Others have been more recently discovered. Most depict a lady with a locket and portraits of U.S. Navy vessels.
Frank also writes the "Yorktown", a 16-gun full-rigged ship, made one trip to the Pacific and two from Boston to Africa to suppress the slave trade. She was in service from 1839 to 1850.
Frank and Vardeman discussed "Melintha" as a name in the Taber family of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, in which some members were whalemen.
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March 3, 2026 9:30 AM EST
East Dennis, MA, US
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