Whalebone Busk with Pierced Decoration Including the Three Initials "EWS", American circa 1870
InformationFine pierced whalebone busk with pieced decoration. The top of the busk has the shape of the top of a heart with pierced pinwheels at the top corners, American, circa 1870. There are several other pierced decorations including stars, hearts, a spade, and a three-leaf clover. At the center are larger carved out initials with the letters “EWS”. At the bottom is another pair of pin wheels. (SC1284)
Note: The "swastika"-like motif as a lauburu or Basque cross looks somewhat like a propeller and appears on a number of 18th and 19th century objects as it does on the octant case described above. The laubure and the fylfot cross are visually similar—although more geometric—but apparently unrelated in origin. Since the Basque people were among the first people to participate in whaling and had connections to the Eastern Coast of North America, this could explain its inclusion on the maritime pieces.
Condition: Excellent.
Dimensions: Height 12 ¼; Width 1 ¼ inches.
Circa 1870
