Exceptionally fine box with five painted Arctic whaling scenes. The top of the box has an Arctic whaling scene with icebergs painted along the front, the right hand side and a few smaller section of ice in the water.

Near the center of the box is a whale ship flying the American flag off the gaff and a banner from the main mast with the name: "North Star". Below the ship is a sperm whale raising his head out of the water and a whaleboat to the right harpooning a second whale. To the left are other whales and a second boat.

To the right is a small sloop about to crash into the ice and a ship beyond with an American flag caught in the ice.

The box has a bone escutcheon carved in the shape of a whale. The front of the box shows a ship on the ice called the Advance. There are icebergs all around the front painting as well as a grouping of walruses.

The right hand side of the box has a whale ship flying an American flag with icebergs to the left and spouting whales to the right.

The left hand side of the box depicts an American whaler at anchor and whaleboats and icebergs scattered through the image.

The back of the box shows an American whaler at night with the flames from the triworks burning on deck and reflecting in the water. The interior of the box retains the original red lined paper. American. Circa 1855.