SCRIMSHAW WHALEBONE CRIBBAGE BOARD IN THE FORM OF A WHALE, American Mid 19th Century
InformationEngraved and pierced whalebone game board surrounded by an engraved scene of a whaleship and three whaleboats in pursuit of a pod of whales in the form of a cribbage board. Each whaleboat is carrying six men and at least two of the boats are fast to a whale. Foliate garland along perimeter. Signed "John Schiff" at end and "J" and "S" above whaleship. Other initials, possibly "O", "F", "T" and "C" on underside. Board raised on four metal pins.
Length 16".
Provenance:
Paul Madden Antiques, Sandwich, Massachusetts.
The Collection of Paul Vardeman.
Reference 1: Illustrated in Scrimshaw: The Whaler's Legacy by Martha Lawrence, p. 176.
Reference 2: "Treasury of American Scrimshaw: A collection of the Useful and Decorative" by Michael McManus, Published by Penguin Studio 1997. Illustrated full page color. The piece illustrated is in the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum. This unsigned example appears to be by the same hand as the one described above. There are several similarities including the engraved whaling scene at the lower center,
Mid 19th Century
