Sperm Whale Tooth

Object/Artifact

Historical Collection at the George Hail Free Library

Name/Title

Sperm Whale Tooth

Entry/Object ID

2025.04.01.01

Description

Tooth from a Sperm Whale

Context

The order Cetacea, that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises is divided into two main groups: the toothed whales (Odontocetes) and the baleen or whalebone whales (Mysticetes). Toothed whales include dolphins, porpoises, as well as the large sperm and killer whales. Baleen whales include all of the largest whales; in fact the largest living animal on earth, the blue whale, is in this group. (Source: https://www.nps.gov/redw/learn/nature/toothed-vs-baleen-whales.htm).

Made/Created

Time Period

18th Century, 19th Century

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

handwritten

Location

underside

Transcription

"Gift of Capt. Edward Macomber"

Lexicon

Getty AAT

Concept

teeth (animal components)

Dimensions

Width

2 in

Length

6-1/2 in

Material

whale tooth

Location

Cabinet

Display Case 6

Room

Charles Whipple Greene Historical Collection

Building

George Hail Free Library

Date

April 1, 2025

Condition

Overall Condition

Poor

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Captain Edward Macomber

Exhibition

Scrimshaw

Create Date

April 1, 2025

Update Date

July 17, 2025