Souvenir of Albany
Date1950 - 1970s
Object number00028353
NameWhale tooth
MediumSperm whale tooth
DimensionsOverall: 150 x 40 mm, 0.15 kg
ClassificationsDecorative and folk art
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionSmall sperm whale tooth with 'Souvenir of Albany, WA' written in black ink on the side. The tip of the tooth shows the layers of dentine and enamel, while the surface has its original ridging and unlike much scrimshawed teeth, has not been polished down.HistoryAlbany is the oldest British settlement on the Western Australia coast. By the 1970s it was a long established holiday resort, which created a demand for souvenirs from the region. The Cheyne Beach Whaling Company's station at nearby Frenchman's Bay was an important secondary industry and was the last surviving shore-based whaling operation in the southern hemisphere.
All other whaling stations in Australia were closed in 1963 after the humpback whale was found to be in danger of extinction. The Albany station continued until 1978.SignificanceThis tooth is a relic of the last of the whaling station in the southern hemisphere and is a crude attempt at replicating the traditional art of scrimshandering.
19th Century
19th century
19th century
19th century