Scrimshaw Marlinspike or Fid

Object/Artifact

Historical Collection at the George Hail Free Library

Name/Title

Scrimshaw Marlinspike or Fid

Entry/Object ID

1916.05.23.01

Description

Both Marlinspikes and Fids are used by sailors for tasks such as de-tangling or splitting rope and working with canvas.

Context

Scrimshaw (carved whale tooth) depicting a full-rigged ship flying an American flag on one side and a woman holding a flower on other. The artist used at least four colors to create this scrimshaw--red, green, yellow, and black.

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Mrs. Ota(???)

Made/Created

Time Period

19th Century

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Fid

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Needleworking Equipment

Nomenclature Class

Textileworking T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 04: Tools & Equipment for Materials

Getty AAT

Concept

marlinspikes

Material

whale bone

Location

Cabinet

Display Case 6

Room

Charles Whipple Greene Historical Collection

Building

George Hail Free Library

Date

May 22, 2026

Location

Cabinet

Display Case 102

Room

Charles Whipple Greene Historical Collection

Building

George Hail Free Library

Date

April 10, 2026

Location

Cabinet

Display Case 6

Room

Charles Whipple Greene Historical Collection

Building

George Hail Free Library

Date

April 1, 2025

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Exhibition

Scrimshaw

Create Date

April 1, 2025

Update Date

May 22, 2026