Full Text:

NARWHAL TUSK AT WHITE AUCTION

(with 4 cuts)

Rita Easton

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- The complete collection of New Bedford whaling and

nautical items from the estate of Dr Robert H. Goodwin of South Dartmouth,

Mass., was offered by Gustave J.S. White on December 7. One hundred forty five

lots crossed the block at the Newport County Auction Gallery, following two

inspection sessions. Auctioneer Michael R. Corcoran counted the house at

approximately 150, and reported a gross of $68,000.

Creating a buzz among collectors and dealers alike, an 86« inch long narwhal

tusk brought the day's top bid, $7,000, going to a Rhode Island collector.

"The narwhal, a whale-like animal, grows to be about 18 feet long," Corcoran

explained, "and doesn't use his tusk to spear other animals, but rather uses

it to dig out mussels and other shellfish from the sand."

A Massachusetts collector won an antique stick barometer by J. Bassnet of

Liverpool at $3,700; a brass four-draw spyglass, inscribed: "Presented by the

State of Rhode Island to Capt Thomas Borden of the Steamer King Philip - July

1842," garnered $2,800; Macy toggle irons ranged from $1,000 to $1,500 for the

harpoons; a darting gun for shooting whales, with original shaft secured to

the toggle iron, marked "J.D.D.," (James D. Driggs, a New Bedford shipsmith,

1876-1902), reached $1,900; and an 1886 watercolor signed "C. Tobey, 1886,"

sold at $500.

A Currier & Ives large folio print of the ship Bristol was purchased at

$1,200; and an unsigned painting of sailing ships sailing through fjords, one

ship in full sail and one with furled sails, brought $700.

A sextant in a fitted case achieved $450; six carved wood whales of different

types, mounted within a 35 by 19 inch frame, garnered $950; and a Chelsea

ship's clock, six inches in diameter, sold at $250, while a 7« inch diameter

Great Lakes Engineering Company ship's clock reached $350.

A collection of elegant canes starred an example with handle in the form of a

lady's leg, selling at $400, while the remainder ranged down to $200. A late

entry cane from a different consignor however, made entirely from whale bone,

with the handle in the form of a woman's clenched fist, went out at $2,100.

A Currier & Ives print of a gaff-rigged cutter Thistle reached $800; a brass

bound rosewood ship captain's desk went out at $1,000; a cribbage board of

walrus tusk, 23 inch long, inspired a $1,000 bid; a William A. Wall print of

early New Bedford reached $1,100; an early Nineteenth Century ship's journal

of Arthur Gray, a deck hand on the ship Delphi, went out at $550; and a

Clarkson long glass on a brass stand fetched $1,300.

Prices quoted do not reflect a required ten percent buyers premium.