Information About the Whalebone Plaques

These portrait medallions were created in the 17th century by the Englishman John Osborn. He was specialized in working with baleen, which is the keratinous material found in whale mouths.

The Noordsche Compagnie, a Dutch whaling company from the 17th century, sought ways to utilize byproducts of their whaling and gave Osborn a patent for processing of the baleen. By making the baleen soft and pressing it into a copper mold, he created detailed medallions.

The figures depicted are the stadtholders Maurits and Frederik Hendrik van Oranje, along with Frederik Hendrik’s wife, Amalia van Solms. These were all influential figures of their time.

Fresh Bowhead Baleen, Alaska, by Flip Nicklin/Minden Pictures