Place MadeSouth America
Title
Paita Eagle
Mediumsperm whale ivory, glass
Dimensions3 1/4 × 2 3/4 × 1 1/2 in. (8.3 × 7 × 3.8 cm)
Donor credit lineGift of Stuart M. Frank and Mary Malloy
Object number2004.33.3
Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum
DescriptionA sperm whale tooth carved in full-round, and following the curvilinear contours of the tooth, in the form of a standing eagle with wings folded; eyes inset with chards of lavender glass. This is typical so-called "Paita work" (named for the whaling port of Paita in Peru), from the Peruvian and Chilean shore-whaling stations of the 1960s. The genre descends from full-round-carved auks and penguins, which also follow the curvilinear contours of the tooth, made by Norwegian, English, Scottish, and other Antarctic factory-ship whalemen and shore-station whalemen since the early 20th century.ProvenanceRick Garen, Friendswood, Texas; eBay, Feb. 2004; Stuart M. Frank, Foxborough, Mass.; gift of Stuart Frank and Mary Malloy, 2004
On View
On view
circa 1946-1965
circa 1946-1970
19th Century
19th Century
Post 1840
Post 1908
19th Century
19th Century
