Title
Hand-clamp swift
Date19th Century
Mediumwhale ivory, whale skeletal bone, walrus ivory, tortoise shell, silk, pigment
Dimensions[H]17 __[W]4 ", cage closed __[D] __[Dia] __[L] __[Remarks]Clamp only: 4 1/2" x 2 1/4"
Donor credit lineKendall Whaling Museum Collection Transfer
Object number2001.100.963
Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum
DescriptionThe swift contains a double cage made from skeletal whalebone fastened with one row of yellow metal rivets. The ribs and struts are tied with faded pink, blue and cream colored ribbons (not indigenous). The upper and lower sprockets have 9 slots. The shaft is made from skeletal whalebone with the middle part covered with 2 whale ivory fused collars with red and black line pigment inlay. The turned whale ivory expansion collar and round thumbscrew have red and black pigment inlay. The shaft jets into a closed fist and clamp of walrus ivory. The upper surface of the clamp (the hand) is inlaid with a diamond shaped tortoiseshell inlay surrounded by 4 stars filled with gray and black pigment. There are also 4 polychrome dots at each corner of the diamond (2 red 2 black). The sides of the upper portion of the clamp have green line and leaf pigment patterned inlay.ProvenanceDetached parts acquired from William Kranzler 08/14/1960. Assembled in the museum workshop circa 1960; new ribbons evidently added at that time.On View
Not on view
19th Century
19th Century
19th Century
19th Century
19th Century
19th Century
19th Century
19th Century
