Rafael Osona's Annual Auction Catalog Rafael Osona Annual Auction 2018 | Page 77

185. WHALE IVORY AND WHALEBONE FIGURAL SWIFT, American circa 1850, the whalebone cage constructed of
240 staves supported on a turned whalebone shaft with turned ivory fittings, the upper hosts a fine and deep cup finial; the bottom
adjusting section is turned and scribed. The most unique ivory table clamp is a dog’s head with open mouth and a full set of teeth and a
miniature full bodied dog behind, with a finely carved clenched fist clamp screw. Length 17 in.
Provenance: Descended in the Chase and Swain families of Nantucket and was found on Nantucket.
Reference: Frank, Stuart M., Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved /Scrimshaw in the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Boston: David R. Godine,
2012 pp. 271-287. There are many examples of swifts shown and described on these pages.
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