Scrimshaw etched with patriotic theme owned by John Wesley Cromwell

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

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."

Explore Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture ↗