021 whale tooth
Identification number: 021
Object: Decorated tooth
Material: Sperm whale
Artist: unknown
Date: 19th century Basis style
Length: 5 1/2" 14 cm
Width: 2 1/4" 5.2 cm
Thickness: 1 5/8" 4.2 cm
Pigment: black, very thick and gummy
Tool used: knife
Design description: - Face pointed decoration around tip; full-rigged ship with gun ports, no whaling gear, on stylized sea, flying American flag at stern; double line border all around base, 3/8" up from cut base
Verso: portrait of a woman shown from the waist wearing hat
Condition: dirty; many small chips out of base; at least 4 cracks up from base, longest 3/4"
cleaned 3 May 1999
Other notes: pinpricked outline defines shape of woman; some pinpricks define shape of ship and sails red-edged paper label reads "404/ Nicholson" affixed to edge base cut to allow piece to stand
Location: Box 2
Cataloged by Judith N. Lund - Date: 5 April 1999
