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Pacific or Atlantic Ocean, ca. 19th century CE. A fun artifact from the time of European and American whaling expedition and exploration – a delicately carved whale bone toothpick in the form of a nude woman. Her legs are incised scales or fishnet-like stockings on her upper thighs – perhaps a Venus or mermaid figure. The 2 pick blades swivel outward and rotate on a metal pin below her feet and are stored between her separated legs. The picks are made from a sheer material – perhaps whale baleen. This would have been carved by a sailor to pass the time while onboard his ship. Size: 2.75″ L x 0.6″ W (7 cm x 1.5 cm)
US law on whale ivory states items must be made prior to 1970 to be legal to sell, however, we suggest checking your state/country laws for importation from Colorado.
Condition: Intact and excellent. Old inventory number on the surface.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; acquired from Material Culture, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, USA, March 13th, 2023; ex-estate collection of Diana and Lawrence Fane.
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
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