19th c. Turned & Carved Ebony & Ivory Sewing Clamp
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Elaborately turned and carved 19th c. sailor-made ebony and whale bone ivory sewing clamp. Table clamp has vase shaped thumbscrew.
"Sailors carved sperm whale teeth, walrus tusk, or ivory from their catches. The captain got his pick of the teeth, but since a good sized sperm whale has 42 teeth, and the usual size of a three boat whaling crew was 21 men, no schrimshander was left toothless." (source: Sealift, U.S. Military Sealift Command, January 1978)
DATE:
c. 1840s
SIZE:
6.75" x 2.25"
CONDITION:
Gaps in ivory from drying and contraction. Surface wear and dings to ebony. Screw thread works perfectly. Missing pin cushion.
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