Scrimshaw, Whale's Tooth
Decorative Arts and Design
One of the main sources of lighting fuel in the colonial period and well into the nineteenth century was whale oil. Consequently, hunting for whales was an important part of the economy. The long ocean voyages that characterized this enterprise afforded the sailors a great deal of free time, during which they sometimes made crafts out of unusable parts of the whale such as the teeth. In nautical slang, scrimshaw denotes any precision mechanical work.
MEDIUM
Whale's tooth
DATES
ca. 1830–1870
DIMENSIONS
5 5/8 x 2 1/8 in. (14.3 x 5.4 cm)
mount (display dimensions): 6 × 4 × 2 5/8 in. (15.2 × 10.2 × 6.7 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
X613.2
CREDIT LINE
Brooklyn Museum Collection
PROVENANCE
Prior to 1969, provenance not yet documented; before 1969, acquired by the Brooklyn Museum, acquisition method not documented.
Provenance FAQ
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Sperm whale's tooth with engraved decoration rubbed with black pigment. On one side, two masted sailing vessel flying American flags; on other, lighthouse with two vessels in background and four flying birds.
Condition: Good. Chips around inner edge at base, several cracks working up from base.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Unknown. Scrimshaw, Whale's Tooth, ca. 1830–1870. Whale's tooth, 5 5/8 x 2 1/8 in. (14.3 x 5.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X613.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, X613.2_view01_PS11.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, X613.2_view01_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2022
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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