030 whale tooth
Identification number: 030
Object: Decorated tooth
Material: Sperm whale
Artist: unknown
Date: probably 19th century
Basis style
Length: 7 1/28" 18 cm
Width: 2 5/8" 6.4 cm
Thickness: 1 3/4" 4.5 cm
Pigment: black, red, blue
Tool used: knife
Design description: - Face squadron of 13 ships shown bow or quarter on, sails full, on stylized sea. Inscribed "UNITED, STATES, SQUADRON, UNDER, COM. BAINBRIDGE, RETURNING, TRIUMPH/NT, FROM THE, MEDITERRANEAN, IN 18.15 MACEDONIAN, FIREFLY, INDEPENDENCE, CONGRESS TORCH SPARK, CHIPPEWA BOXER SARANAC, SPITFIRE ENTERPRIZE FLAMBEAU LYNX"
Verso: Ship with American flag on stern shown from the port quarter, armed with guns, shown at the entrance to small harbor. Point with buildings and churches on right. Inscribed "THE HORNET BLOCKADING THE BONNE CITOYENNE"
Condition: cleaner than most; some chipping at root end' crack from end, on face, up 2" ; on Verso:, 2" up from base and near tip.
cleaned 3 May 1999
Other notes: end smoothed, but not cut flat
Location: Box 2
Cataloged by Judith N. Lund - Date: 5 April 1999
