Carved Sperm Whale Tooth

Description

Pre-Ban Carved Sperm Whale Tooth – Penguin

This charming pre-ban Carved sperm whale tooth depicts a beautifully sculpted penguin standing upright. The carving makes excellent use of the natural shape of the sperm whale tooth, transforming the elongated form into the distinctive body and upright posture of the bird.

The penguin has been carefully shaped with a graceful curved head and beak, defined flippers, rounded body, and individually carved feet. Its smooth, highly polished surface displays the warm cream-to-honey coloration and subtle natural character of the sperm whale ivory.

A particularly appealing detail is the eye, made from whale baleen, which provides a contrasting accent against the pale ivory and gives the carving a surprisingly lively expression. The use of baleen for the eye adds an additional layer of traditional whale-material craftsmanship to this unusual piece.

This Carved Sperm Whale Tooth sculpture is compact enough to hold comfortably in the hand while still having a strong presence as a display piece. Its simple, elegant form makes it an especially attractive example of carved whale-tooth folk art.

Highlights

• Material: Genuine sperm whale tooth / ivory
• Subject: Penguin
• Type: Three-dimensional hand-carved sculpture
• Status: Pre-ban
• Eye: Made from whale baleen
• Finish: Smooth, highly polished natural ivory
• Color: Warm cream/honey ivory
• Documentation: Ships with a CITES Permit

A Unique Collector’s Piece

This Carved Sperm Whale Tooth is an appealing example of the more sculptural side of sperm whale tooth art. Rather than relying on engraved imagery, the artist has transformed the tooth itself into a recognizable animal figure, retaining enough of the tooth’s natural form to make the material immediately apparent.

The baleen eye is an especially interesting feature and creates a subtle contrast that brings the penguin to life. It would make a wonderful addition to a collection of sperm whale ivory, scrimshaw, maritime folk art, nautical antiques, or historic whale-tooth carvings.

CITES Documentation

This piece is represented as pre-ban sperm whale ivory and will be accompanied by the applicable CITES Permit. The documentation should be retained by the purchaser for future reference, particularly if the carving is ever transported or sold internationally, as regulations concerning sperm whale ivory can vary by jurisdiction.

A charming and highly tactile sperm whale tooth carving, featuring a beautifully sculpted penguin with an authentic whale-baleen eye.