Scrimshaw Sperm Whale’s Tooth, Mid-19th Century
notes: label: Description
content: The activities of whaling were obvious subjects for whaler crews with plenty of time on their hands during ocean voyages that could last up to four years. On the main side, this tooth shows several steps in the grisly business of capturing the world’s largest mammals. A whale ship on the left is hauling “blanket pieces,” or long wide strips of whale flesh, from a whale in the water onto the deck for processing. Atop the main mast, a lookout calls “There she blows” and points to two whales exhaling in the water ahead. Sea birds fly overhead as a whale on the right breaches, or jumps out of the water. Underwater is a whale marked “A SPERM WHALE”. On the other side, two ships show their sterns to the viewer as they sail away. Above is an American eagle holding in its beak a banner inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM”; in its talons is a starred and striped shield from which fly two American flags.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Maritime
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content: Scrimshaw
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content: Cultures & Communities
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content: Transportation
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content: Art
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Aaron & Lillie Strauss Foundation
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TR.58.28
label: accession number
content: 218148
objectType: label: Object Name
content: tooth, whale
label: Object Name
content: scrimshaw tooth, whale
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: tooth (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 in x 2 1/2 in; 17.78 cm x 6.35 cm