William New Bedford busk

busk

SCRIMSHAW & ALLIED ARTS - BUSKS
marad; scrimshaw
USA, MA, New Bedford
1.81 x 13.38 x 0

Whalebone busk engraved and decorated in sepia and red inks. From top: pair of 6-point stars with palm tree within heart; stylized Mesopatamian warrior on chariot; inscribed with text "Once in a sperm whale's jaw/this bone did rest/But now is _____ to a female's breast"; geometric pattern; 6-point star in circle; starboard view of ship with text "William (scratched out) New Bedford", house with tree and anchor; couple under willow tree; semi-circle with sawtooth edge. Simple rope border along side edges. On reverse: whaleboat attacking a harpooned sperm whale. Busk rounded at bottom, 2 lobes at top.

UNIDENTIFIED ship; UNIDENTIFIED whaleboat
1981.64.23