Description:

Pacific or Atlantic Ocean, ca. 19th century CE. A fun artifact from the time of European and American whaling expedition and exploration - a delicately carved whale bone toothpick in the form of a nude woman. Her legs are incised scales or fishnet-like stockings on her upper thighs - perhaps a Venus or mermaid figure. The 2 pick blades swivel outward and rotate on a metal pin below her feet and are stored between her separated legs. The picks are made from a sheer material - perhaps whale baleen. This would have been carved by a sailor to pass the time while onboard his ship. Size: 2.75" L x 0.6" W (7 cm x 1.5 cm)

US law on whale ivory states items must be made prior to 1970 to be legal to sell, however, we suggest checking your state/country laws for importation from Colorado.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; acquired from Material Culture, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, USA, March 13th, 2023; ex-estate collection of Diana and Lawrence Fane.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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#184493

  • Condition: Intact and excellent. Old inventory number on the surface.

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May 3, 2024 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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