Swift with Base

DateCirca 1840

Mediumwhale ivory, whale skeletal bone, wood, hemp, metal

Object number2009.47.1

Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum

DescriptionThis swift contains a double cage made from skeletal whale bone. The struts are simple in design while the ribs are grooved on the sides and their end are spear shaped. The ribs and struts are connected by two rows of yellow metal rivets, their ends are also tied together with hemp and light blue ribbon. The upper and lower sprockets contains 24 slots and are both made from turned whale ivory. The shaft is plain in design and made from skeletal whale bone. The collars below the shaft is made from turned whale ivory. The botton shaped thumb screw is made from whale ivory. The cup shaped finial is made from whale ivory and has a turned base. The base of the swift is square and has three tiers. The base is made from wood and has a tropical wood vineer. The base of the swift has a scalloped bottom. The base is supported by 4 button feet made from whale ivory.

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