4A

SCRIMSHAW WHALE'S TOOTH SIGNED BY WILLIAM SIZER AND DATED 1834
Collection of mostly patriotic motifs covers nearly the entire surface of the tooth. One side with "Eng. By W. Sizer", a small weeping willow tree, and a full-length portrait of a long-haired Lady Liberty wearing a sash, holding a staff topped with a Phrygian cap, and standing next to a rope-entwined anchor that rests on a foliate-decorated rectangle. Marked on one edge of tooth "Pacific Ocean. July 4. 1834". Opposite edge with image of a whale. Other side of tooth with a foliate sprig, a spread-wing eagle clutching an "E. Pluribus Unum" banner in its beak and hovering over a shield, crossed American flags, a cannon and cannonballs, and a warship with two decks of guns, pennants flying from the masts and a large American flag flying off the stern. Many of the elements, including the gunports, the cannonballs and Liberty's sash, are very deeply stippled, and the water around the ship's hull is deeply engraved. Length 6.5". Includes wooden stand. Height on stand approx. 8.5".
In Stuart M. Frank's Scrimshaw and Provenance: A Third Dictionary of Scrimshaw Artists (Mystic, Ct.: Mystic Seaport, 2013), p. 258-259, William Sizer is described as a Franco-Azorean whaleman from New England, who was believed to have been onboard an 1834-1837 voyage of the whaleship L.C. Richmond of Bristol, Rhode Island, presumably when this tooth was produced. His output included a number of outstanding teeth, some of which are signed. Sizer, born in 1801 in Chester, Massachusetts, died at sea in 1840 and was buried in Tahiti.
This item is not available for international delivery without CITES and other necessary permits. Obtaining these permits is the obligation of the buyer. Please be aware of current international and domestic regulations and bid accordingly.

Collection of mostly patriotic motifs covers nearly the entire surface of the tooth. One side with "Eng. By W. Sizer", a small weeping willow tree, and a full-length portrait of a long-haired Lady Liberty wearing a sash, holding a staff topped with a Phrygian cap, and standing next to a rope-entwined anchor that rests on a foliate-decorated rectangle. Marked on one edge of tooth "Pacific Ocean. July 4. 1834". Opposite edge with image of a whale. Other side of tooth with a foliate sprig, a spread-wing eagle clutching an "E. Pluribus Unum" banner in its beak and hovering over a shield, crossed American flags, a cannon and cannonballs, and a warship with two decks of guns, pennants flying from the masts and a large American flag flying off the stern. Many of the elements, including the gunports, the cannonballs and Liberty's sash, are very deeply stippled, and the water around the ship's hull is deeply engraved. Length 6.5". Includes wooden stand. Height on stand approx. 8.5".
In Stuart M. Frank's Scrimshaw and Provenance: A Third Dictionary of Scrimshaw Artists (Mystic, Ct.: Mystic Seaport, 2013), p. 258-259, William Sizer is described as a Franco-Azorean whaleman from New England, who was believed to have been onboard an 1834-1837 voyage of the whaleship L.C. Richmond of Bristol, Rhode Island, presumably when this tooth was produced. His output included a number of outstanding teeth, some of which are signed. Sizer, born in 1801 in Chester, Massachusetts, died at sea in 1840 and was buried in Tahiti.
This item is not available for international delivery without CITES and other necessary permits. Obtaining these permits is the obligation of the buyer. Please be aware of current international and domestic regulations and bid accordingly.
Condition: Chip at tip. Some fading of ink, particularly in the area of Lady Liberty. Some old gouges, mostly concentrated at lower edge of Lady Liberty side. Old crack at base on ship portrait side, with some age lines extending from crack. Other age lines, mostly unobtrusive.


Please contact Eldred's 48 hours prior to the auction start time with condition report requests. Please do not bid on any item without reading the condition report. The absence of a condition report does NOT imply that an an object is free of defects or restoration. Please contact Eldred's before bidding with any questions as to condition. Condition reports are provided as a complimentary service and only reflect the opinion of Eldred's and should not be taken as a statement of fact. Condition reports only detail flaws or restorations and do not take into account wear, fading, or other issues consistent with an object's age.

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 $5/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.

August 13, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
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 $199 $10
$200 $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