National Museum of American History
One of a Pair of Scrimshaw Sperm Whale’s Teeth, late 19th Century
Unknown artist
This is one of a pair of decorative whales teeth (374507 and 374508). Both are the same size, have similar subjects by the same hand and identical mahogany bases for vertical display. Originally, they would have decorated a family parlor, or a gentleman’s bureau or dressing room. This tooth has a heavily costumed couple on the obverse, depicting a couple at a moment of parting, perhaps Tristan and Isolde or Romeo and Juliet.
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