©1997 The Kendall Whaling Museum
KWM # S-1831 recto

SCRIMSHAW
Sperm-whale tooth anonymously carved with traditional African ornamentation believed to have both Moslem and totemic tribal significance. While such objects had intrinsic appeal as souvenirs for whalemen calling at East and West African ports -- particularly ’N Gooja (on Zanzibar) and in the Madagascar Strait -- native African carving on whale ivory is extremely rare.