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Lot Essay
With its finely worked detail, expressive inscriptions and patriotic symbolism, this lot depicts several of the most impressive motifs found in scrimshaw. The maker's recognition of the Sag Harbor whale ship Superior is specifically significant, given the ship's place within the whaling history of America.
Commanded by thirty-two year old Captain Thomas Welcome Roys (1816-1877) in 1848, the ship Superior was the first American ship to venture into the Bering Strait to hunt bowhead whales. With the whale population decreasing in the waters off the coast of South America, Roys acted on advice he had received from a Russian naval officer while recuperating from an injury in Siberia. In line with his daring and adventurous character, Roys steered the vessel into icy arctic waters on July 23rd, 1848 in search of more plentiful hunting grounds; he did not share his plans with the crew, or the owners of the ship, for fear he would have a mutiny on his hands. In the end, his instincts proved correct and the ship procured a full cargo in a short period of time. With this voyage, a new chapter of American whaling began and within three years, over 250 ships were hunting the arctic waters of the Bering Strait. For further information on Roys and the ship Superior, see: Sangini, Marc, The Lost Fleet, (New York, 2007), pp. 284-286 and Schmitt, Frederick P., Cornelis De Jong, Frank H. Winter, Thomas Welcome Roys, America's Pioneer of Modern Whaling, (Charlottesville, 1980).
Commanded by thirty-two year old Captain Thomas Welcome Roys (1816-1877) in 1848, the ship Superior was the first American ship to venture into the Bering Strait to hunt bowhead whales. With the whale population decreasing in the waters off the coast of South America, Roys acted on advice he had received from a Russian naval officer while recuperating from an injury in Siberia. In line with his daring and adventurous character, Roys steered the vessel into icy arctic waters on July 23rd, 1848 in search of more plentiful hunting grounds; he did not share his plans with the crew, or the owners of the ship, for fear he would have a mutiny on his hands. In the end, his instincts proved correct and the ship procured a full cargo in a short period of time. With this voyage, a new chapter of American whaling began and within three years, over 250 ships were hunting the arctic waters of the Bering Strait. For further information on Roys and the ship Superior, see: Sangini, Marc, The Lost Fleet, (New York, 2007), pp. 284-286 and Schmitt, Frederick P., Cornelis De Jong, Frank H. Winter, Thomas Welcome Roys, America's Pioneer of Modern Whaling, (Charlottesville, 1980).