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An arch created with two whale jaw bones on the west cliff at Whitby, framing the view of Whitby Abbey. The original arch was made in 1853 and was a tribute to the whaling trade. Due to decay the arch has been replaced twice, firstly by fin whale bones from Norway in 1963, while the current bones are from a bowhead whale killed by native Inuits in Alaska and installed in 2003.

Title

Whale Bone Arch

Date

1853 & 2002

Medium

whale bone

Measurements

H 580 x W 400 x D 30 cm (E)

Accession number

YO21_FJ_S036

Acquisition method

gift from the Anchorage Sister Cities Commission

Work type

Sculpture

Owner

Whitby Town Council

Custodian

Whitby Town Council

Work status

extant

Access

at all times

Inscription description

on plaque next to arch: LOWER JAWBONES OF BALAENA MYSTICETUS / (COMMON NAMES GREENLAND RIGHT WHALE OR BOWHEAD WHALE) / PRESENTED TO THE TOWN OF WHITBY / BY / THE ANCHORAGE SISTER CITIES COMMISSION / AND THE CITIZENS OF THE / MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE ALASKA / GEORGE P. WUERCH, MAYOR / AND / NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH, ALASKA / GEORGE AHMAOGAK, MAYOR / APRIL 2002. / WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO: / SENATOR TED STEVENS / DON NUNGASAK / ALASKA AIRLINES / SKW ESKIMOS, INC, / GIRL SCOUTS SUSITNA COUNCIL / AIR CARGO EXPRESS / CARGOLUX INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES / SCARBOROUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL

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East Terrace, Whitby

YO21 3HA

Located at top of steps leading down to harbour, in front of terrace of houses.

Artist or maker

unknown artist

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