Scrimshaw Sperm Whale Tooth, 19th or 20th Century
date: label: date made
content: 19th-20th century
notes: label: Description
content: During the Civil War, Confederate commerce raiders like the CSS <i>Alabama</i> made it very difficult for the North's merchant vessels to conduct their business. After a two-year chase, on 19 June 1864 the Union steam warship USS <i>Kearsarge</i> caught the CSS <i>Alabama</i> at the port of Cherbourg, France. The evenly-matched ships fought a battle that ended with the <i>Alabama</i> sinking. The loss of the most famous Confederate raider was a strategic and political victory.
label: Description
content: On the obverse of this sperm whale tooth, <i>Kearsarge</i> on the left is delivering a broadside at the <i>Alabama</i> to the right. The scene is framed by an oval pennant inscribed with the date on the top and "ALABAMA and KEARSARGE" below. To the left is an eagle atop a shield. The reverse has a bust portrait of victorious Union ship captain John A. Winslow, surrounded by an oval rope motif, a striped swag, a cannon and a barrel. The tip of the tooth was broken off and repaired with two staples and adhesive. Specific decorative elements in common indicate that this tooth was carved by the same anonymous artist as the <i>Constitution</i> vs. <i>Guerriere</i> tooth (Cat. 1978.0052.18).
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Maritime
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content: Cultures & Communities
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content: Scrimshaw
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content: Transportation
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content: Art
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: From the collection of Dr. and Mrs. Wilbur J. Gould
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1978.0052.36
label: accession number
content: 1978.0052
label: catalog number
content: 1978.0052.36
objectType: label: Object Name
content: scrimshaw
label: Object Name
content: scrimshaw tooth, whale
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: scrimshaw (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: whale tooth (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 5 3/4 in x 2 1/2 in x 1 1/2 in; 14.605 cm x 6.35 cm x 3.81 cm