Scrimshaw tooth, woman and girl

tooth

SCRIMSHAW & ALLIED ARTS - TEETH
marad; scrimshaw
Allen, Charles H.
February 1850
ivory
Overall: 5 x 3 5/8 x 2 in.

Sperm whale tooth engraved by Charles H. Allen. Pin-prick portraits of woman gazing at hat in her hands, & girl holding a flower. Image of girl holding a flower extracted from a larger grouping in "Harper's New Monthly Magazine," October 1854. Image of Woman holding a hat from "Harper's New Monthly Magazine," August 1854 (Same image as on MSM 1947.1351, but by a different hand). Tooth signed: "ENGRAVED BY C.H. ALLEN. Of. N. YORK. While/ on Bord. of the. Solon. Feb. 1858. Aged 24 in June" on banner design. Spiral-engraved from tip of tooth: "CAPT./ W. Childs. of the BARK SOLON./ 1st MATE. S. TINKHAM 2st LEV. Stratton./ 3st AND BOAT STEERERS. H. Tiffney...." (add'l names on pg. 3) Minor chipping at both tip & bottom edges of tooth.

1984.4.11