English Sailor’s Scrimshaw Carved Sperm Whale Tooth Seam Rubber

Object Description

An English Sailor’s Scrimshaw Carved Sperm Whale Tooth Seam Rubber Engraved to one side with a Regency Urn
Fine old mellow patina
Early 19th Century

Size: 11.5cm long, 4cm wide, 2.5cm deep – 4½ ins long, 1½ ins wide, 1 ins deep

Object Literature

When the whale-men were not engaged in hunting whales or routine maintenance their spare time was spent carving materials harvested from the whales and not needed commercially. At the end of a long, often two to three year voyage, the resulting carefully crafted objects would provide treasured souvenirs for loved ones at home, or mementoes for use on board.
Seam rubbers were a sailmaker’s tool, hand-made in one piece, for working and smoothing the cloth of sails, tarpaulins, canopies and hammocks on board ship. Thrifty captains who did not want the cost of new sails taken out of their share or ‘lay’ insisted on patching worn out or torn canvas sails. Seam rubbers were also used for dungarees, jackets, slickers and other sailor-made and sailor-repaired garments.

Object Details