"Remember me / when far away"

tooth

SCRIMSHAW & ALLIED ARTS - TEETH
marad; scrimshaw
Pratt, Spencer
USA, RI, Newport
ivory
Overall: 6 1/4 x 3 1/2 x 2 in.

Sperm whale tooth by scrimshander Spencer Pratt. Engraved starboard broadside portrait of a full-rigged ship under plain sail on a starboard tack, in a circular frame with olive branch ornaments and the motto in two ribbons above, "Unum / E Plurbis"; above these, a circumferential band of stars; surmounted by a patriotic eagle-and-fouled-anchor device under an arch of olive branches. On back side, lardboard broadside portrait of a full-rigged ship under plain sail on a starboard tack, in a circular frame with olive branch ornaments and the motto in a ribbon above, "Remember me / when far away"; surmounted by a composite female figure of Liberty and Justice, sans blindfold, wearing a classical Greek helmet, holding a vertical Liberty Pole with Liberty Cap in her left hand and Scales of Justice in her right hand, flanked by an arch of olive branches.
Some checking of tooth; heavy golden patina overall. See also 1955.1037, 1983.98 for other pieces by same scrimshander.

1983.97