Whale tooth, ivory and baleen receptacle for 'spills'

spill holder

Spill (thin strip of wood or rolled paper used to carry a flame to a candle, lamp, pipe, etc.) holder in shape of a vase; the top, or cup-shaped holder, made of whale's tooth with engraved floral decoration, mounted on pedestal made of alternating rings of turned ivory and baleen, circular ivory base (chipped and broken), metal rod through center of base and pedestal; said to be from old home in Wollaston, Massachusetts; purchased for $16 from Walter L. Burrows by C. K. Stillman June 21, 1937; missing from MSM and returned September 1990 - see correspondence file.