114: A 19TH C. WHALEBONE AND AND MARINE IVORY WALKING STICK

A fine example of the sailor's art created in downtime between hunting whales and manning the ship. The handle, probably a sperm whale tooth, is carved as a fist in great detail grasping a serpent with inlaid baleen eyes atop a shaft of whalebone divided by a notched baleen washer.

Herman Mellville speaks to the sailor's art of scrimshaw in Moby Dick, ''lively sketches of whales and whaling-scenes, graven by the fishermen themselves on Sperm Whale-teeth, or ladies busks wrought out of the Right Whale-bone, and other like skrimshander articles, as the whalemen call the numerous little ingenious contrivances they elaborately carved out of the rough material in the hours of ocean leisure...'' But much more than scrimmed whale teeth and ladies corset stays was made on the whaling ships, including objects like this.
Measures 34.25 x 1.5 x 1 inches.
Very good original condition, there are no issues of damage, repair or heavy wear.
Provenance: The Paul Vardeman Marine Antiques Collection.
$600 - $900