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View: Obverse
Scrimshawed whale's tooth
about 1816
Object Place: United States
Medium/Technique
Engraved sperm whale tooth
Dimensions
8.8 x 18.6 x 4.6 cm (3 7/16 x 7 5/16 x 1 13/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Cornelius C. Vermeule III
Accession Number2003.349
CollectionsAmericas
ClassificationsDecorative arts
DescriptionSperm whale tooth with an engraving on each side. Obverse is a scene of the engagement between two vessels during the War of 1812, possibly the Constitution and Guerrière after a Michel Felice Corné illustration in Abel Bowen's publication, The Naval Monument (Boston, 1816).
Reverse is of the figure of the Greek goddess Diana holding an arrow in her right hand, and a bow in her left hand. A dog runs by her left side; its spots are not original to the engraving.
Reverse is of the figure of the Greek goddess Diana holding an arrow in her right hand, and a bow in her left hand. A dog runs by her left side; its spots are not original to the engraving.
InscriptionsNo inscriptions.
Provenance1945, purchased in November or December 1945 by Cornelius C. Vermeule III (1925-2008) at an antique or curio shop in Kobe or Deshima, Japan (1); 2003, given by Vermeule to the MFA (2) (Accession date: September 17, 2003)
(1) Vermeule was Curator of Classical Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 1957-1996.
(2) On loan to the MFA since 1983.
(1) Vermeule was Curator of Classical Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 1957-1996.
(2) On loan to the MFA since 1983.