Early 19th Century Scrimshaw Whales Tooth

Description

Heading : An early 19th century whales tooth decorated with scrimshaw
Date : Early 19th century
Period : George IV
Decoration : See below
Size :  Height 12.5cm.
Condition : 11 long chip in the base and some splits as expected.
Restoration : None
Weight : 281 grams

Many thanks to Reverend Mike for the following scriptural information.

The combination of the “Holy Bible” and peacock is a reference to the Book Of Kings chapter 10 verse 22.

“For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold. silver. ivory. apes. and peacocks”

Tarshish was the source of King Solomons wealth and was possibly a city of region in Tunisia ( Carthage) or Sardinia. Hiram was the Phoenician King of Tyre in the seventh century BC. The fact that this is marine ivory and whaling was associated with wealth creation in the 19th century makes the combination of peacock and bible engraved into ivory a clear biblical reference. One possible interpretation is thet the lady depicted is beckoning the yound man to look further afield and to make his fortune before she takes his hand in marriage.