Thomas Burdett swift

Mediumwhale ivory, walrus ivory, whale skeletal bone, silk, bronze

Dimensions16 1/4 × 2 3/4 in. (41.3 × 7 cm)

Object number1964.28.5

Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum

DescriptionThis swift contains a double cage made from skeletal whalebone and is fastened together with yellow metal rivets. The ends of the struts and ribs are tied together with faded pink silk ribbons. The sprockets are made from whale ivory and have a total of 24 slots. The shaft consists of a copper case. The case is surrounded by an inner sleeve made from two pieces of whale tooth ivory. There is also a shorter outer sleeve made from walrus ivory. The lower end of the shaft is made of whale ivory and has multiple turnings that are decorated with linear inlay made of red sealing wax. The bottom of the copper shaft has a screw made from whale ivory in the shape of a nut that attaches the swift to the base. The finial is pommel shaped with multiple turnings that have linear inlay made of sealing wax and circular abalone. The swift is housed in an oblong softwood box that may or may not be original to the swift. The inner sides of the ends of the box are gouged out to accommodate the entire swift. The outer surface of the box is stained a brownish red.ProvenanceFrom a descendant of the maker.

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