Description: This hundred centimeter folding ruler was the precursor to the modern measuring tape in function.It is made of the flexible, whale material known as baleen and is held together at every ten centimeters by brass pins and capped at either end in brass. Every centimeter is marked by a tiny pin, every five marked by a column of three.

History: People formerly used baleen (usually referred to as "whalebone") for making numerous items where flexibility and strength were required, including backscratchers, collar stiffeners, buggy whips, parasol ribs and as corset stays. It was commonly used to crease paper; its flexibility kept it from damaging the paper. It was also occasionally used in cable-backed bows. Synthetic materials are now usually used for similar purposes, especially plastic and fibre glass. It is not to be confused with whale's bone meaning the bones of whales, used in carving, for cutlery handles and other uses for the bones of various large species.

Provenance: N/A

Dimensions: Weight (Pounds & Ounces) = 0.125 | Height(in) = 4.5 | Width(in) = 0.5 | Depth(in) = 0.75

Size of Artwork(in): 4.5 x .5 x .75

Artist Name: Unknown

Medium: Baleen

Circa: C. 1840

Slight scraping from repeated use, minor discoloration, and a noticed gouge around the 3cm mark.