Baleen Sailing Ship

Price: $300.00

Quantity:

This is the perfect gift for the boating enthusiast. This handmade carving of a sailing vessel is by an unknown artist. All structural pieces, including masts & sails are crafted from baleen. An ivory block anchor accents one side of the vessel. This ship is approx. 11.00" in length, with a height of nearly 6.75" at the top of the mast.

Baleen is the means by which baleen whales feed. These whales do not have teeth, but instead have rows of baleen plates in the upper jaw– flat, flexible plates with frayed edges looking like combs of thick hair. Baleen is not bone, but is composed of keratin, the same substance as hair, horn, clawsand nails. Whales use these combs for filter feeding. Baleen has many of the properties of modern plastics.