Title
Tamper-Cutter
Date19th Century
Medium, whale skeletal bone, elephant ivory, metal
Dimensions1 1/2 × 1 1/2 × 6 7/8 in. (3.8 × 3.8 × 17.5 cm)
Object number00.146.23
Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum
DescriptionA pie crimper with a stepped and tapered panbone shaft, terminating at one end in a plain saddle, all one piece; the foreshaft stipple engraved with the initials "AT"; inserted on the other end, a center-drilled, squat half-round tamper, the flat end incised with a flawed 8-pointed star motif. The fluted wheel is an elephant ivory replacement, not indigenous, not scrimshaw. Metal axle, almostr certainly also a replacement.Speculation is that the original wheel was a cutter with a straight (i.e., non-fluted) edge, and that the implement was for working butter or dough (i.e., not for crimping pies). Speculation is also that the shaft may be older than most scrimshaw (circa 1800-1810) and that the wheel is an unfortunate adulteration that should be removed.
On View
Not on view
20th Century
19th Century
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19th Century
