Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
c. 1850 Sailor Engraved Pair of Whaling Theme Decorative Hand-Crafted 13" Long Commemorative Wooden "Knives"
1850-Dated Mid 19th century, Whaling Ship Sailor Engraved and Ink Pair of "Whaling" Theme Decorative Hand-Crafted 13" Long Commemorative Wooden "Knives" depicting a Whaling Hunt and Various Species of Hand-drawn Whales Identified, Fine.
The American Flag Whaling Brig Rachel was a vessel involved in the whaling industry during the mid-19th century, specifically in the 1850s. Hawaii served as a strategic hub for whaling fleets due to its central location in the Pacific and its abundance of whales. Whaling vessels would often stop in Hawaiian ports for supplies, repairs, and restocking provisions before continuing their voyages. Crew members would use small boats called whaleboats to approach and harpoon whales, then tow them back to the whaling vessel for processing. All this whaling activity is depicted on this Pair of Handcrafted 13" long x 1.5" wide decorative Wooden Knives.
The handles are finely engraved in a pattern representing a grip about 4.5" long. The knife blade comprises the balance and each is decorated and written in black ink. Only one side of each is carved and decorated as they were apparently meant to be displayed Uniface as a pair. One shows a Whaling Ship named "BRIG RACHEL" at Sail at "OWHAII 1850" with Diamond Head located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu shown in the distance during a Whale Hunt, with one of its small whaleboats with a sailor holding his harpoon, ready to strike at one of several whales shown. The other knives' blade depicts Three Types of identified Whales, "SPERM" "RIGHT" and "BLUE". There is overall definite honest and even wear to each causing some fade to the designs, while the plain reverse sides have some scattered original ink drips and spread (not meant to be seen). Overall, an excellent memento and commemorative rarity of the early American Whaling Industry. (2 items)