Please be advised: this website contains the names, images and voices of people who are now deceased.

Collections WA has a responsibility to preserve and make accessible the history and culture of Western Australia in all its various forms. The intention of Collections WA is to support research, and to reveal actions of the past that have impacted upon communities, families, and individuals.

In doing so, Collections WA acknowledges the need to respond sensitively and appropriately in cases when accessing this material may be confronting to Aboriginal visitors and clients.

Please also note: Some historical materials within this portal may include language or opinions that today are considered inappropriate or even offensive. Collections WA does not endorse this language and apologises for any distress caused.

Continue

Continue showing cultural advice

Stop showing cultural advice

Collections WA brings together collections from libraries, galleries, museums, archives, historical societies, cultural organisations, community groups and other collecting organisations across Western Australia.

Albany's Historic Whaling Station > Records

SCRIMSHAW (NARWHAL)

« Prev Item Next Item »

Subcollections

Overview

Whale's tooth with etched image on face depicting hunter in a canoe, harpoon in hand. A narwhal's head is in the foreground as another whale has its tail only above water. A ship is to the rear.

Historical information

This item is believed to be made in Alaska.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-128-SC1999.251

Item type

Artworks

Scrimshaw

Themes

Maritime > Whaling

Material

Ivory

Width

65 mm

Height or length

135 mm

Depth

25 mm

Inscriptions and markings

Letters Inscribed on the inside of the tooth difficult to accurately decipher: 'Xae' and 'Dx...afa k..d'. Refer to media photos.

Contextual information

Given to the Bells by Durant Hembrey, Zoologist from WA Museum (Ref. Jill Bell in conversation with AG 20.3.99) (Original J + JO Bell list item #67 p.6 /8)

Keywords

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

Whaleworld Museum

Place made

Alaska

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance

Public location

Scrimshaw gallery at AHWS

Last modified

Thursday, 20 August, 2026

Completeness

83

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

More items like this

Search all items »

Search all items »

Other items from Albany's Historic Whaling Station

Scrimshawed whale's tooth depicting a whaler hunting narwhals from a canoe with a ship in the background.

Scrimshawed whale's tooth depicting a whaler hunting narwhals from a canoe with a ship in the background.

Inside SC1999.251 -1.

Inside SC1999.251 -2.

Media reuse | View full size | Item feedback

Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->

Full size unavailable (you're already seeing this image in its highest resolution available on Collections WA)

Loading...