Jagging Wheel
Unknown Artist
1800–1900
Medium
Walrus ivory
Dimensions
H. 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm)
Classification
Jagging wheel
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Sylmaris Collection, Gift of George Coe Graves, 1930
Accession Number
30.120.145
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, the *Jagging Wheel* is a charming example of 19th-century folk art crafted from walrus ivory. Standing at 8 5/8 inches (21.9 cm) tall, this delicate tool—used historically to crimp or score pastry dough—was likely fashioned by an unknown American artisan, possibly a whaler or sailor. The creamy, durable walrus ivory, sourced from Arctic waters, speaks to the resourcefulness of maritime communities during the 1800–1900 period, when ivory carving became a popular pastime aboard ships. Carved with precision, the wheel's jagged edge and e...