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Scrimshaw, Whale's Tooth

Decorative Arts and Design

MAKER Unknown
MEDIUM Ivory (whale tooth), pigment
  • Place Made: United States
  • DATES ca. 1825-1835
    DIMENSIONS 5 × 2 3/4 × 2 1/2 in. (12.7 × 7 × 6.4 cm) mount: 5 1/4 × 3 1/2 × 2 3/4 in. (13.3 × 8.9 × 7 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER X613.1
    CREDIT LINE Brooklyn Museum Collection
    PROVENANCE Prior to 1969, provenance not yet documented; before 1969, acquired by the Brooklyn Museum, acquisition method not documented.
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    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Sperm whale's tooth with engraved decorations of two portrait medallions (probably taken from a contemporary engraving in a periodical). Medallion on one side is the bust of a lady in evening attire and one of a gentleman in day dress. Saw-tooth edged frames. Top border crosshatched with leaves; bottom pyramids and scallops. Rubbed with black pigment. Condition: Good. Chip and crack at base.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Unknown. Scrimshaw, Whale's Tooth, ca. 1825-1835. Ivory (whale tooth), pigment, 5 × 2 3/4 × 2 1/2 in. (12.7 × 7 × 6.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X613.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, X613.1_view01_PS11.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, X613.1_view01_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2021
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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    Unknown. <em>Scrimshaw, Whale's Tooth</em>, ca. 1825-1835. Ivory (whale tooth), pigment, 5 × 2 3/4 × 2 1/2 in. (12.7 × 7 × 6.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X613.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, X613.1_view01_PS11.jpg)