A Fine Antique Narwhal Tusk (1700 to 1900 Arctic)

Narwhal Tusk

Provenance: Ex English Private collection

All narwhal tusks are left spiralled and sometimes, on very rare occasions, two tusk narwhals occur and are almost always female. However, in the 1960's off the coast of Greenland a narwhal was noticed with three tusks. It had two long and solid tusks which were the same in length and shape whilst the third was slim and located beside the left tooth. This unusual animal was seen on two successive days surrounded by several other protective males, and was so distinct that no doubt existed about the observation of its three spiralling tusks.
The Danish King Frederick III who ruled from 1648 to 1670 possessed a tiny boat made of narwhal tusk, but believed to be of unicorn's horn and therefore able to detect the presence of poison. Made in the mid 1660's by Jacob Jensen Nordmand who relates in his autobiography: 'In August I made for His Majesty a boat of unicorn bound in gold. The anchor on it was also made of gold, the sails were of unicorn as thin as eggshell. It can float in a goblet of wine, following a magnet wherever one desires.' In the little boat's prow was set a piece of iron so that with a magnet one could draw the boat around the wine goblet. This magical miniature sailboat can still be seen in Rosenberg Castle in Copenhagen.

Fine old colour and patina
A slight natural bend towards the tip end

A Fine Antique Narwhal Tusk
late 18th / early 19th Century

Size: 60.5 inches long - 154cm long
Provenance: Ex London Private collection
C.I.T.E.S documentation available
See: Finch and Co catalogue no. 3, item no. 40, cat no. 7, item no. 129, and cat no. 8, item no. 55, for other examples