SCRIMSHAW WHALE'S TOOTH ATTRIBUTED TO WILLIAM SIZER Circa...

SCRIMSHAW WHALE'S TOOTH ATTRIBUTED TO WILLIAM SIZER Circa 1835
Obverse depicts a full-length portrait of a woman in Renaissance-like attire, including a large festooned hat, a long scarf and patterned dress with an exaggerated collar. Reverse depicts flowers in a footed compote. Attributed to Sizer by Dr. Stuart M. Frank, Senior Curator Emeritus of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, as indicated in an April 19, 2016 email to the consignor. Length 7.25".
A tooth by William Sizer with a similar portrait of a woman is illustrated in Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved by Stuart M. Frank (Boston: David R. Godine, 2012), fig. 3.1b. In Frank's Scrimshaw and Provenance: A Third Dictionary of Scrimshaw Artists (Mystic, Ct.: Mystic Seaport, 2013), p. 258-259, William Sizer is described as a Franco-Azorean whaleman from New England, who was believed to have been onboard an 1834-1837 voyage of the whaleship L.C. Richmond of Bristol, Rhode Island. He produced a number of outstanding teeth, some of which had portraits of the L.C. Richmond , some of which are signed, and some of which bear similar portraits of women to this example. Sizer, born in 1801 in Chester, Massachusetts, died at sea in 1840 and was buried in Tahiti.
This item is not available for international delivery without CITES and other necessary permits. Obtaining these permits is the obligation of the buyer. Please be aware of current international and domestic regulations and bid accordingly.

Obverse depicts a full-length portrait of a woman in Renaissance-like attire, including a large festooned hat, a long scarf and patterned dress with an exaggerated collar. Reverse depicts flowers in a footed compote. Attributed to Sizer by Dr. Stuart M. Frank, Senior Curator Emeritus of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, as indicated in an April 19, 2016 email to the consignor. Length 7.25".
A tooth by William Sizer with a similar portrait of a woman is illustrated in Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved by Stuart M. Frank (Boston: David R. Godine, 2012), fig. 3.1b. In Frank's Scrimshaw and Provenance: A Third Dictionary of Scrimshaw Artists (Mystic, Ct.: Mystic Seaport, 2013), p. 258-259, William Sizer is described as a Franco-Azorean whaleman from New England, who was believed to have been onboard an 1834-1837 voyage of the whaleship L.C. Richmond of Bristol, Rhode Island. He produced a number of outstanding teeth, some of which had portraits of the L.C. Richmond , some of which are signed, and some of which bear similar portraits of women to this example. Sizer, born in 1801 in Chester, Massachusetts, died at sea in 1840 and was buried in Tahiti.
This item is not available for international delivery without CITES and other necessary permits. Obtaining these permits is the obligation of the buyer. Please be aware of current international and domestic regulations and bid accordingly.

Condition: Please contact Eldred's 48 hours prior to the auction start time with condition report requests. Please do not bid on any item without reading the condition report. The absence of a condition report does NOT imply that an an object is free of defects or restoration. Please contact Eldred's before bidding with any questions as to condition. Condition reports are provided as a complimentary service and only reflect the opinion of Eldred's and should not be taken as a statement of fact. Condition reports only detail flaws or restorations and do not take into account wear, fading, or other issues consistent with an object's age.