Title

Inlaid box

Mediumwood, whale ivory, whale skeletal bone, non-ferrous metal, ferrous metal, cloth, silk

Dimensions8 3/8 × 21 × 13 1/8 in. (21.3 × 53.3 × 33.3 cm)

Object number1963.2.1

Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum

DescriptionLarge wooden box inlaid and trimmed with whale ivory and skeletal whale bone. The top has 4 five-pointed stars of whale ivory near the corners, four whale ivory diamonds (one fallen off and stored inside, two on loose moldings), 8 fan corners of wood (4 missing), 2-piece ornamental strip along equator (missing; material unknown), and at the center a rectangular whale ivory plaque with scalloped corners, inscribed in stipple cursive "R.A.G." [or "R.A.I."]; skirt has a whale ivory diamond and knob on front; front panel has two tetrakeles flanking a triangular escutcheon (above) and a diamond (below); sides each have a large wooden diamond framed in whale skeletal bone; back has one diamond. Inside of hinged lid was once fitted with a mirror (missing). The two sides and back of the interior are lined with a double tier of drawers with non-ferrous metal loop pulls, surmounted by four compartments along the sides and a platform along the back partly lined in red silk; each compartment has a mahogany lid with whale ivory knob pulls, and is framed in whale skeletal bone; the platform is surmounted by a sepulchre-like, red-silk-lined watch stand of wood and whale ivory, with a whale ivory facade flanked by columns carved in the form of forearms and hands; the facade panel snaps on and off to accommodate a pocket watch (not present).

Accompanying the box is a red silk pincushion housed in a skeletal bone frame with sawtooth edge, wooden base (loose), four ivory feet (2 missing); which in is mortised into a scalloped fence or housing comprised of four panels of skeletal bone with scalloped and pierced-work decorations (the fence panels are detached and there are two additional endpieces missing).

Related pieces: several wooden structural and framing members and fallen-off pieces of inlay stored inside; key (the lock is frozen). Also: an envelope addressed in cursive ink holograph, "Mr. & Mrs. Capt. Sowle / Present"; with 3 calling cards: "Mrs. Hale Remington / Reception / Friday Evening, Sept First at 8 1/2 o'clock / 71 Rock St."; "Mr. & Mrs. H.H. Remington"; "Cornelia M. Woodman."

Unrelated contents: 2 wooden parquetry calling card cases (1 in tatters); a non-ferrous metal basket with bale handle and miniature fireplace tongs; a mahogany drawer with fallen-off whale ivory knob; and a "basket contains two carved nuts; 2-inch bottle with ivory stopper; a 2-3/4-inch lead spoon; and 5 beads"; plastic box with unrelated scraps of whale ivory and mother of pearl, and a polychrome engraved oval of whale ivory with pierced edges.

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