Blubber pounder

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Blubber pounder, 1800s
Origin unknown
Musk-ox horn

Donor unrecorded
Museum number 9999-214

Whale blubber provided oil for lighting. This tool was used to pound frozen blubber to soften it and release the oil. Once the blubber was soft, it was placed in a lamp with the wick. The heat from the wick melted the blubber, which fuelled the lamp for some time.