Making A Stand For The Narwhal

The Original Book Works’ new product has the wow factor without endangering the species.

Like ivory, the natural beauty and curiosity value of narwhal tusks have captured the imagination of explorers, scientists and the aristocracy for centuries, making them highly collectible. Believed by medieval Europeans to be the horn of the mythical unicorn with magic powers, merchants would trade narwhal tusks for many times their weight in gold. Queen Elizabeth received a narwhal tusk for £10,000, the cost of a castle, which became part of the royal sceptre. By the 19th century, a narwhal tusk mounted on a plaque or made into a hat stand had become the ‘must-have’ trophy in every English country house.

The elusive Narwhal is, in actual fact, a species of Arctic whale confined to the extreme reaches of the Northern Hemisphere and the tusk that protrudes from the male narwhal’s upper jaw is a distinctive single spiralled tooth that can grow up to three metres in length.

Today this mysterious marine mammal is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and it’s illegal to import, sell and even possess a narwhal tusk that is not accompanied by an official tag.

But now, thanks to Original Book Works’ ability to produce exact replications of all kinds of weird and wonderful objects, anyone who appreciates Mother Nature’s infinite capacity to amaze and delight us can own a life-size replication of a genuine narwhal tusk.

Following in the wake of their best selling range of candelabras and lamps featuring real antlers, which was introduced at the Paris trade show last September, Original Book Works are now launching an exciting new statement piece that is set to become another big talking point.

Handcrafted by artists to faithfully reproduce in intricate detail a beautiful spiralled tusk 1.5m tall, their new umbrella stand looks equally at home in the entrance of a country house, loft apartment, or seaside holiday home. With rope rings completing the nautical theme, like the tag of a real narwhal tusk, this collector’s item is finished with the seal of approval found on all genuine Original Book Works products.

“To buy a real narwhal tusk at auction today you’d expect to pay two or three thousand pounds,” said Philip Masters of Original Book Works at the company’s manufacturing base in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. “With our new product range, collectors of curiosities can own a faithful reproduction of a narwhal tusk with a clear conscience and feel they are helping to build awareness of the plight of this endangered species.”

To find out more about this exciting new narwhal tusk product range, call Philip Masters on 01285 641664.

Online Catalogue |  Narwhal Accessories