« Sweatfree Olympics 2012? | Main | Thousands respond to Bangladesh Factory Fires - Send an email to H&M »

March 01, 2010

Whaling Artifacts

whale1.jpg

These pictures were taken in the New Bedford Massachusetts Whaling Museum, which has a very bizarre film from early last century on American Whaling. Also in the collection are these two artifacts (top) a woven "Whaler's Hat", 19th century, probably Nootka, made from spruce root and pigment. "Documented during the voyages of James Cook in the mid 18th century, these hats held special status significance to both the men and women of this whaling culture."

whale2.jpg

This is a swift (yarn winder) made from whale bone. The museum wall text says "From Pursuit to Preservation" but it's mostly bones, artifacts and amazing paintings from the history of Whaling.

Posted by cat at 11:21 AM