engraving (art)

Scenes in scrimshaw on a sperm whale tooth, depicting on one side a naval engagement between two ships, one bearing the French flag, the other a British naval flag, the White Ensign, on the rop of the main mast. On the stern, this ship flies the Red Ensign, perhaps suggesting she was of the squadron that would in the past have flown under this flag; at Trafalgar the division into three squadrons had been discontinued.

On the other side, a single ship is depicted, with three masts and three rows of cannons, flying the Red Ensign.

Collection Information

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