Marine, Folk Art

Late 19th-very early 20th c. Sailor-made sword fashioned out of a piece of whale bone with wood handle in shape of sea serpent or fish.  Sword has paintings of eagle, swordfish and a portrait of U.S.S. Oregon, a US Navy pre-dreadnought Indiana class battleship commissioned in 1896 who had a fascinating career from a starring role in Spanish-American War ( earning her the nickname ” the Bulldog of the Navy” through World War II, where she ended up as an ammo barge at the Battle of Guam.  These types of things were frequently done by sailors to commemorate naval tours of duty.

Dimensions 5″h x 36″l .

Most Recent