American two masted ship

Date19th century

Object number00006420

NameScrimshaw

MediumSperm whale tooth, pigment

DimensionsOverall: 163 x 65 mm, 0.5 kg

ClassificationsDecorative and folk art

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionThis Sperm whale tooth depicts a two masted ship flying an American flag. Only one side of the tooth has been engraved. Sailors would create pieces such as this onboard whaling vessels to pass idle hours at sea. They often depicted engravings of ships and images of their everyday life at sea.HistoryScrimshaw is a maritime folk art that developed onboard whaling vessels in the early 19th century. It involved engraving, carving, inlaying or assembling bone from marine mammals, including whale bone, teeth, baleen, walrus tusks and shell. For a period of roughly 100 years whalers produced a wide variety of scrimshaw, but it is the engraved teeth and jaws that have received the most admiration. Teeth are generally considered classic scrimshaw because of their decoration, including whaling scenes, family members, religion, love, women and patriotism. SignificanceThis tooth is representative of a range of scrimshaw engraved with images of ships and patriotic symbols, including the American flag.