Summary

Whale bone snuff box with four engraved silver plates, reported to have been made from whale baleen (called whale bone on the box) from a whale killed in England in 1809.

Physical Description

Presentation snuff box made from whale baleen and silver.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Leisure, Sustainable Futures

  • Acquisition Information

    Donation & Subsequent Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Nathaniel Levi, 27 Mar 1940

  • Place & Date Made

    England, Great Britain, circa 1809-1843

  • Inscriptions

    Inscribed on silver plate No 1: 'Piece of the Bone of the Whale Killed 25 March 1809 by John Barnes, Pilot, Gravesend' Inscribed on silver plate No 2: 'Sir Charles Flower LORD MAYOR The Whale was killed on the Bly Sands in the Jurisdiction of the City of London' Inscribed on silver plate No 3: 'This box was given by the daughter of John Nelson after his decease to Chas Rippon Esq Solicitor after the death of the latter was presented to Mr Nathaniel Levi by Miss Rippon as a token in remembrance of her deceased father December 13th 1881' Inscribed on silver plate No 4: 'Presented by J. Newman Esq to Mr John Nelson Deputy Water Bailiff of the city of London 1843'

  • Classification

    Recreation & tourism, Substance use - snuff, Storage

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Technology

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Exhibition Collection Management

    84 mm (Length), 59 mm (Width), 27 mm (Height)

  • Dimensions

    85 mm (Length), 56 mm (Width)
    Measurement From Conservation.

  • Keywords

    Animal Products, Baleen, Gold & Silversmithing, Personal Effects, Snuff Boxes, Tobacco, Whalebone