Early Modern Japanese Whaling: An Iconographic Study
Dublin Core
Title
Early Modern Japanese Whaling: An Iconographic Study
Description
Small museums can be the repository of mighty collections. The New Bedford Whaling Museum (NBWM) in
Massachusetts, USA, is one such example. The NBWM holds a significant collection of artwork depicting early
modern (17th – 19th c) Japanese whaling. A systemic analysis of the imagery in these pieces allows us to learn
more about the equipment and strategies used in whaling in the early modern period. This paper provides an initial
review of those collections, highlighting the types of vessels used, tools and other equipment, and important
shoreline infrastructure associated with whaling that are depicted in the artwork.
Massachusetts, USA, is one such example. The NBWM holds a significant collection of artwork depicting early
modern (17th – 19th c) Japanese whaling. A systemic analysis of the imagery in these pieces allows us to learn
more about the equipment and strategies used in whaling in the early modern period. This paper provides an initial
review of those collections, highlighting the types of vessels used, tools and other equipment, and important
shoreline infrastructure associated with whaling that are depicted in the artwork.
Creator
Michelle Damian
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2023
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Damian, Michelle . 2023. “Early Modern Japanese Whaling: An Iconographic Study.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, and T. Kurt Knoerl. Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/2020
Files
Collection
Citation
Michelle Damian, “Early Modern Japanese Whaling: An Iconographic Study,” Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Proceedings, accessed September 16, 2026, https://apconf.omeka.net/items/show/2020.