Sperm Whale Tooth Watch Stand
date: label: date made
content: 19th century
label: Associated Date
content: collected
notes: label: Description
content: Scrimshaw known to have been made specifically for men is comparatively rare. This unfinished tooth was hollowed out at the back to carry a gentleman’s pocket watch inside, perhaps set on a wardrobe, a bureau or a dressing table overnight.
label: Description
content: Patriotic imagery was very popular on American scrimshaw. At the top is a large eagle in flight clutching arrows and an olive branch; the hole for the watch is framed by a simple scalloped line. The space at the bottom was probably reserved for the owner’s initials or possibly a date, and the two holes were likely drilled for ivory buttons. The piece was unfinished when it was donated in 1875 by J. H. Clark of Newport, R.I.
topic: label: Subject
content: Fishing
label: related event
content: Expansion and Reform
label: related event
content: Civil War and Reconstruction
label: related event
content: The Development of the Industrial United States
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Maritime
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content: Cultures & Communities
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Work
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content: Industry & Manufacturing
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content: Natural Resources
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content: Transportation
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content: Art
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content: Domestic Furnishings
label: Exhibition
content: On the Water
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: National Museum of American History. On the Water exhibition website
label: Related Web Publication
content: http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: J. H. Clark, of Newport, RI
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.024905
label: catalog number
content: 024905
label: accession number
content: 4331
objectType: label: Object Name
content: whale tooth/clock holder
label: Object Name
content: scrimshaw tooth, whale / watchholder
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: tooth (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (base material)
label: Physical Description
content: silver (clock material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (clock material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 1/4 in x 4 3/8 in x 2 in; 18.415 cm x 11.1125 cm x 5.08 cm