NARWHAL TUSK. ...

Description

NARWHAL TUSK
Monodon monoceras
Nicknamed "the unicorn of the sea" the narwhal is one of the most unusual-looking animals on our planet today. The characteristic elongated tooth, typically found only in the male, has been credited with magical properties and was so prized in the 16th century that Queen Elizabeth paid an astounding 10,000 British pounds for one carved and bejeweled example, for which money at the time she could equally have bought herself another castle. Elsewhere, two crossed narwhal teeth adorn the entrance to the Korninkaku Palace in Japan, and multiple teeth comprise the frame of the Danish throne. Worth more than their weight in gold to the Vikings, they were also used to fashion cups and thought thereby to negate the effect of any poisons that might have been slipped into the drink they contained. Very occasionally an animal will be discovered exhibiting two of these elongated teeth, but generally it is only one tooth on the left hand side of the jaw that grows to such a preposterous length, and characteristically shows the left-handed helix visible here, and a wave-like form when viewed along the horizontal axis. This fine example measures 56 inches in length.Comes complete with documentation allowing it to be sold within the United States. However, it is important to note that this lot cannot be exported outside of the United States. From a museum collection in Ohio.

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