$4,444
Engraved Whale's Tooth, 19th century, one side of the tooth depicting a monument topped with a crucifix and flying American flags over a scene continuing around the base of the tooth with sailing and steam vessels with a seaside village and mountains in the background , the reverse depicting an urn issuing leafy branches flanked by two potted plants, (age cracks), lg. 6 1/8 in. Provenance: Descended in the family of William and Henry Walters, who established Baltimore's Walters Art Museum, a privately assembled collection that excels in many diverse fields of the fine arts. Crack on urn side goes entirely up and then down 1/3 of the way on the other side, also several other tight hairlines around base and tip and one which widens enough to put a fingernail in at the base; a 3/8 in. chip on the base edge on the monument side.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2009-06-07
