Record

Seat of whalebone

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From Howmae, North Ronaldsay, Orkney

This whalebone seat was found at Howmae on North Ronaldsay in Orkney. It is a rare survival of native furniture from between 100 BC and 400 AD.

Legs for the seat would have been morticed into the four square holes.

In the treeless north and west of Scotland, furniture was made from either driftwood or whatever materials were at hand, including whalebones.

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Online ID: 000-100-038-814-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland X.GO 6
Date: Between 100 BC and 400 AD
Material: Bone, whale epiphysis; pierced with four square holes
Slab / seat
Dimensions: 14.50" x 11.50"
What: Slab / seat
Subject:
Who: Dr William Traill
John Traill
Where: Scotland, Orkney, North Ronaldsay, Howmae
Event:
Description: Large oval cetacean bone slab with four rectangular perforations placed near each corner, possibly to receive morticed 'legs', the slab being the seat of a stool, from Howmae, North Ronaldsay
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