4241

Circa 1850

SCRIMSHAW WHALE'S TOOTH DEPICTING "LUCY PURDON"

Obverse depicts a fine three-quarter-length portrait of a woman in fashionable clothing, identified as "Lucy Purdon" in script lettering below. The use of a woman's full name is very rare in scrimshaw; it was far more customary to use just a first name or initials. Reverse depicts an urn set on a footed plinth, the body of the urn with scene of two women in a landscape, and the square base with a shield resembling the Australian shield and figures of women at the corners. Pinprick transfer execution.
Length 4.75". With wooden stand. Total height 6".
Condition: Base cut flat. Typical faint age lines at tip. Age cracks at base, the longest approx. 2".
**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:
    William J. Boylhart Collection.

    Notes:
    This tooth is believed to have been presented to Lucy Purdon of the whaling and shipbuilding Purdon family of Hobart, Tasmania.

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February 28, 2023 9:30 AM EST
East Dennis, MA, US

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