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Scrimshawed whale's tooth
Scrimshawed whale's tooth

Scrimshawed whale's tooth

Unidentified artist, American, 19th century
Abel Bowen (American, 1790–1850)
about 1816
Object PlaceUnited States
Medium/TechniqueEngraved sperm whale tooth
Dimensions8.8 x 18.6 x 4.6 cm (3 7/16 x 7 5/16 x 1 13/16 in.)
Credit LineGift of Cornelius C. Vermeule III
Accession number2003.349
On View
On view
ClassificationsDecorative arts
Collections
InscriptionsNo inscriptions.Provenance1945, purchased in November or December 1945 by Cornelius C. Vermeule III (1925-2008) at an antique or curio shop in Kobe or Deshima, Japan (1); 2003, given by Vermeule to the MFA (2) (Accession date: September 17, 2003)

(1) Vermeule was Curator of Classical Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 1957-1996.
(2) On loan to the MFA since 1983.
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