Hat box, dated 1655. of wood and baleen

box

SCRIMSHAW & ALLIED ARTS - BOXES
marad; scrimshaw
Germany
1655
baleen; wood; metal
Overall: 9 3/4 x 14 3/4 x 14 1/2 in.

A large and elaborate, anonymous sailor-made Dutch or North Friesian round hat box known as a kapdoos, intended for a gentleman's broad-rimmed, high-crown hat. Baleen sides, skirt and carved ornamental bands, ornately inscribed and dated 1655. Characters around center band not easily read save for "Jahr" and the date. A rare, early manifestation, probably the only one of its kind in North America (there are several in Holland), ancestor of the Shaker bentwood boxes as well as whalemen's bent baleen and bent panbone scrimshaw ditty boxes.

1959.1095