Great Eastern Shell

Datecirca 1858-1860

Mediummother of pearl

Dimensions6 1/2 × 5 3/4 × 4 in. (16.5 × 14.6 × 10.2 cm)

Donor credit lineKendall Whaling Museum Collection Transfer

Object number2001.100.2149

Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum

DescriptionA large turban shell with an engraved profile of the S.S. Great Eastern, inscribed "The Great Eastern Steam Ship / A.W. Ramsden / Decr 1st 1858 / Designed by I.K. Brunel Esqr Built by J.S. Russell Esqr / Bank House / Hartley / Launched 31st Jany 1858...," with further details pertaining to tonnage, dimensions, etc.

The artist, a British huckster and noted engraved of nautilus, turban, and cowrie shells, was likely from Birmingham; he masqueraded as a purveyor of shell carvings to H.M. Queen Victoria and H.R.H. Prince Albert, made many of these in a variety of sizes (see S-1776 = 2001.100.2153), beginning with the Great Britain in 1845 and moving on to the Great Western; and the Great Eastern in 1858. He evidently sent at least one to Queen Victoria, one to Prince Albert, sold others in England, visited New York (evidently crossing the Atlantic on the Great Eastern on her maiden transatlantic voyage) and sold them on the deck of the ship while she was moored at New York, then visited Australia and did the same.

On View

On view