A collection of narwhal tusk Inuit hunting harpoons
All with a deep patina and smooth touch and old repairs, some with old collection numbers and some harpoons with a curve. As narwhal tusks are naturally never curved, it points at wear by centuries of use. At first sight it seems that these harpoons would not be sharp enough to puncture the thick skin of any polar animal. However, when held in hand, all have a perfect balance and it becomes clear they - utilized by an experienced hunter - are remarkably efficient.
L. 138 cm (the longest)
Provenance:
- Charles Edwards, London (1960s)
- Colin Gross (c. 1999)
- Finch & Co, London (BRAFA, 2008)
- Private collection, Belgium
Part of the Europe collection.
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The illustrations in the book are after etchings by the Honourable A.Y. Gingham, who worked for Brassey aboard the Sunbeam. We can safely assume that he was given this tusk by Lady Brassey, after she received a pair from the Maharaja, to engrave the voyage on this elephant tusk, thus making it a rare literary relic.
A collection of VOC silver ingots
_Amsterdam, circa 1738_ _Weight approx. 1960 grams_ _All bars are 98.7% pure silver_ Stamped with VOC Amsterdam monogram, and with the Amsterdam assayer’s hallmark of the Grill family, silver assayers in Amsterdam _Middelburg, circa 1738_ _Weight approx. 1700 grams_ _All bars are 98.7% pure silver_ Stamped with the VOC Zeeland/Middelburg monogram, with the Middelburg assayer’s hallmark of François Engelsen or with the assayer’s hallmark of Gerrit van Driel