Anonymous
A man standing atop the large sperm whale cranking a large propeller shaft as the overseer appears to be raising a switch. The imagery speaks to the unfortunate disgraceful history, the system of oppression that evolved within the 19th century whale industry. If a man disobeyed orders he may well have been whipped… a common punishment.
Whaling ports were refuges for runaway slaves who sometimes enlisted on whaling vessels to avoid capture. The Nantucket and New Bedford whale fisheries (Naming just two ports) employed large numbers of sailors of different nationalities and color after slavery was abolished; also, Cape Verdeans and Azoreans that arrived on whaling ships from their home ports.
Item Date: Circa 1870-1890
Measurement: Height: 34.5", Length: 52", Full Width Of Propeller: 31"
Material: Wood, tin & paint, tin can hat
Item Condition: Some minor weathering just ahead of the flukes that was professional stabilized without compromising the aesthetic or integrity.
Price: $12,750
SKU 608-24
For More Information, Please Contact David Hillier at 978-597-8084 or email drh@aaawt.com.
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