Shark Vertebrae Cane, 19th Century
date: label: date made
content: 19th century
notes: label: Description
content: Scrimshaw was one form of sailors’ art, and cane making was another. This example is made from a series of carefully graduated shark vertebrae threaded over a heavy metal rod, with the biggest vertebrae at the top. The ferrule is silver and the handle is made of carved bone in the shape of an inverted letter “L”, with hash marks cut into the surface to prevent slipping. A thin iron or steel ring separates the handle from the highest vertebra. This would have been an extraordinary conversation piece in the hands of an old or handicapped 19th century sailing ship crewman.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: associated place
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Maritime
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content: Cultures & Communities
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content: Scrimshaw
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Lawrence N. Ravick
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1994.0217.06
label: catalog number
content: 1994.0217.06
label: accession number
content: 1994.0217
objectType: label: Object Name
content: cane, walking
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: vertebrae, fish (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: shaft: 91 cm x 1.7 cm; 35 13/16 in x 11/16 in
label: Measurements
content: handle: 8.5 cm; 3 3/8 in