Whale's Eardrum and Tooth, Trinity House

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Whalers often returned from long voyages with eardrums from the whales they caught. This small dense bone that fits into the palm of a hand came from a mature sperm whale of over 20m in length.

Seen from a particular angle, these bones resemble the profile of a grotesque human face. Sailors would often paint them with faces and hats as souvenirs.

Christian Salvasen, a Norwegian company, established an Antarctic whaling business in the early 1900s. The company had offices in Bernard Street, Leith and a large whaling station known as ‘Leith Harbour’, in South Georgia. The company ceased whaling in 1962.

For information on visiting Trinity House, go to our website.

130 x 80 x 88mm

Rae Project | TRH136