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Ambergris from a Sperm Whale (Physeter Catodon)
Description and record details
| Title | Ambergris from a Sperm Whale (Physeter Catodon) |
|---|---|
| Description | This is one of two pieces of ambergris that we hold in the collections at National Museum Cardiff. The specimens were collected from Antarctica in 1947 and are from a Sperm Whale (Physeter catodon). Ambergris is a solid, waxy substance from the intestines of Sperm whales. It is composed of fragments of the beaks and shells of cuttlefish and squid, on which the whale feeds. The larger fragment came from a piece weighing 340lbs. Its uses range from medicinal purposes in China, to sacramental rights and as a fixative for perfumes. |
| Item URL | https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/1816031 |
| Community archive | People's Collection Wales |
| Level | Item |
| Author | Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales |
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