Created by:

Unidentified  Search this

Attributed to:

Edward Savage, American, 1761 - 1817  Search this

Owned by:

John Wesley Cromwell, American, 1846 - 1927  Search this

Medium:

ivory

Dimensions:

5 1/4 x 2 1/2 x 1 5/8 in. (13.3 x 6.4 x 4.1 cm)

Type:

scrimshaws

Date:

1800-1850

Description:

A polychrome scrimshaw sperm whale tooth owned by John Wesley Cromwell. The tooth is etched with a patriotic scene depicting a seated Lady Liberty holding an American Flag with a liberty cap attached to the top and a patriotic shield with the word "LIBERTY" written on it. The design is variant on 1796 painting by Edward Savage, "Liberty. In the Form of the Goddess of Youth, giving Support to the Bald Eagle."

Topic:

African American  Search this

Art  Search this

Design  Search this

Ornamentation  Search this

Slavery  Search this

Credit Line:

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number:

2011.155.308

Restrictions & Rights:

Public domain

Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

See more items in:

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification:

Slavery and Freedom Objects

Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

Data Source:

National Museum of African American History and Culture

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd58d026a9f-63f2-4ef1-b365-be60e3ce0d09

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmaahc_2011.155.308