Whaler Progress 1843

“Whaler Progress 1843” black and white scrimshaw on ancient mammoth tusk ivory bark by Ray Peters. Whaler out of New Bedford with a strange history. After her whaling days were past she was purchased by a group of investors in Chicago to be displayed at the famous 1893 World’s Fair. However, by the time she arrived, the original crew had been replaced and she was moored along the Lakefront and became a tourist curiosity instead of a whaling museum. Sad. Eventually was sunk into the muddy lake bottom. Peters has captured her at her prime during her whaling days.