Leo Webster
Senior Specialist
Lot 1Ф,Y
A pair of polychromed and scrimshawed whales teeth, American, 1830's, 18cm (7in) long. 2
18 October 2017, 14:00 BST
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £7,500 inc. premium
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Rhyanon Demery
Head of Sale
Jon Baddeley
Specialist Consultant Collectors, Science & Marine
A pair of polychromed and scrimshawed whales teeth, American, 1830's,
one decorated with shoreline and wreck entitled 'Wreck of the Sir Chas Price' the reverse decorated with harbour scene against mountains, three masted ship flying the American flag, entitled 'Wharre bay I of Huahine'; the other decorated on both faces with whale hunting scenes, with later silver mounts, 18cm (7in) long. (2)
Footnotes
The "Sir Charles Price" is included in the 1833 Lloyd's Lists as having been lost off the Society Islands with all hands saved.
The scene of harbour of Huahine in the Society Islands in French Polynesia is similar to the early view by John Webber (1751-1793) who visited the island in 1777 with Captain James Cook on his third Pacific Expedition. This view of Huahine, was of particular interest to Cook, being that it was recorded in Cooks written orders that his companion to London, Omai, was to be returned to an island of his choice. Cook negotiated an area of land for Omai to settle in Huahine and had his carpenters build him a house in the European style.
For a single scrimshaw by the same hand see Stuart M.Frank, Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved, Boston, 2012, pp 102, 103.