19th Century, American, blue/green painted wood firkin made as a water storage vessel for the whaleman’s whale boat. The firkin tapers from the bottom up and is held together with three iron bands. At the top of the firkin is a metal wire handle with a whale ivory round grip. There is a whale ivory disk mounted over a drinking hole on the top of the firkin and on the opposite side of the top a removable peg for letting in air. (SC1286)
Condition: The firkin has a molted painted surface with sings of age and there are black lines along all of the wood seams. The firkin is in good shape and is very sturdy. It has three metal support bands and a wider one at the bottom which is missing. The bottom of the firkn was exposed to water at the bottom of the boat which caused the metal to rust away. It is probably during these years the firkin was in use and was painted more than once.
Dimensions: Height 14 1/2; Diameter at top 11 1/2 inches, Diameter of bottom 14 1/4 Inches
