American Polychromed Scrimshawed Sperm Whale Tooth, mid-19th century, this “Island” tooth depicts a refined 3-masted bark on ½ of the tooth under full sail with the American ensign aft, a ghostly pennant flying from the main, and the distinctive owner’s house flag at the fore. Above are two islands with heavy vegetation stippled and boldly polychromed; the reverse equally colored and strongly scrimshawed with three islands, two with forts flying American flags.
Height 6 in. Width 2 ⅝ in.