A rare scrimshawed sperm whale's tooth by Stephen C Christian, American, dated 1832 8 3/4in (22cm long)
Click here to see more images.
3049Y
A rare scrimshawed sperm whale's tooth
by Stephen C. Christian; American, dated 1832
engraved on the recto with portrait of the three masted whaler Swift, the verso with decorative engraving of a whaler, the American Eagle and whale chasing scene lettered: Engraved by Stephen C Christian off Cape Horn July 23rd 1832/Ship Swift taking two 80 bbls whales/Death to the living/Long life to the killers/Success to sailors wives/And greecy luck to whalers(sic).
8-3/4 in. (22 cm.) length.
Estimate:
US$ 20,000 - 30,000
£13,000 - 20,000
€16,000 - 23,000

Footnotes

  • The New Bedford whaling master, Stephen Christian, is recorded as having been an officer on the Swift between 1830-32.
    A whaler named Swift is recorded as having departed from Nantucket August 3rd 1831 for the Pacific and returned on 28th October 1834 with 1,868 Bbls. of sperm oil.

    Literature:
    Stuart M Frank, Dictionary of Scrimshaw Artists, p. 30; Alexander Starbuck, History of the American Whale Fishery, Vol. 1, p. 284.

Category: Collectibles / Maritime

Auction terms and conditions

Lot symbols

Y CITES

Contacts

Gregg Dietrich Bonhams
Work
580 Madison Avenue
New York, 10022
United States
Work +1 917 206 1695
FaxFax: +1 212 644 9007
Specialist - Maritime