$110,700
Scrimshaw Whale's Tooth Showing the Frances of New Bedford, Frederick Myrick, Nantucket, c. 1828-29, one side carved with banner reading "The Frances on the coast of Peru," above the whaleship with crew hoisting the blanket piece aboard and three whaleboats at the bow, and motto "Death to the living long life to the killers/Success to the sailors wives & greasy luck to whalers" below, the other side carved with banner reading "The Frances on her homeward bound passage," with lighthouse off the port bow, and inscription "Ship Frances of New Bedford" below, the tip carved on one side with crossed American flags, the other with an anchor and eagle clutching arrows and an olive branch, below a vine border, stars, and banner inscribed "E PLURIBUS UNUM," lg. 7 3/4 in. Provenance: Collection of Jeffrey & Francine Cohen, sold at Richard A. Bourne, July 31, 1989, Lot 85; Richard A. Bourne, November 24, 1979, Lot 312. Literature: This tooth, one of two known showing the whaleship Frances , is illustrated and discussed in Frederick Myrick of Nantucket Scrimshaw Catalogue Raisonne , compiled by Donald E. Ridley, P.E., and edited by Stuart M. Frank, Ph.D. (Kendall Whaling Museum, Sharon, Massachusetts, 2000), as tooth #30 F-2, p. 32. Note: In a biographical note that appears in the catalogue raisonne, Stuart Frank writes that Frederick Myrick is "undoubtedly the most famous scrimshaw artist...[and his] work will likely always remain a cornerstone of any scrimshaw collection Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2017-03-04
