Whale Ivory Scrimshaw Decorated Puzzle Box, American Mid-19th Century
InformationWhale Ivory Scrimshaw Puzzle Box, American Mid-19th Century. The box appears to be made from a block of whale ivory. The box has a rectangular shape with decorative rounded cut out corners. The bottom section of the box has been hollowed out providing a small open compartment. On the upper left sice of the box is a round brass rivet which extends through two whale ivory flat sections that pivot on the rivet. The top section of the box has an engraved scrimshaw border with an engraved image of potted flowers and leaves. This top section hinges to the right and the lower section slides back off a raised dove tail exposing the inside of the box. Puzzle boxes are among the Rarer forms of scrimshaw. (SC1364)
Provenance:
Collection of John DeCiccio Collection, Nantucket, The bottom of the box has a round label that states "The John M. DeCiccio Collection 85"
John Rinaldi Nautical Antiques, Kennebunkport, Maine.
Reference: Illustrated in Scrimshaw and Scrimshanders, Whales and Whalemen by E. Norman Flayderman (New Milford, Ct.: N. Flayderman & Co., Inc., 1972), p. 154.
Mid-19th Century
