I'm a student writing a (short) paper on baleen, focusing on a combination of its physical characteristics, its historical uses, and how it was phased out/replaced by other materials. I'm running into an information block on how it went from the whale to a usable form - what tools were needed to cut it? What parts were cut? Who usually did this? I can't imagine that the corset makers and other product manufacturers at the time were receiving the full baleen plates, so who was?
Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!
Baleen, also known as whalebone, was processed through a series of steps to make it usable for various products. Initially, after a whale was captured and killed, the baleen plates were cut from the upper jaws of the whale. These plates were then cleaned to remove any flesh and oil. Once cleaned, the baleen was boiled or steamed to become pliable, allowing it to be cut and shaped into various forms. This treated baleen was used in the 19th and early 20th centuries for items like corset stays, umbrella ribs, and skirt hoops due to its flexible yet strong properties. The processing was labor-intensive and required precise conditions to ensure the material retained its desirable qualities.
Baleen, commonly referred to as whalebone, is a unique filtering structure found in certain species of whales, particularly the Mysticeti (baleen whales). The processing of baleen involves several steps, from harvesting to preparation for various uses, including its historical application in tools and crafts. The initial step in processing baleen is its extraction from the whale, typically done after the whale has been hunted, a practice that dates back centuries. Historical accounts indicate that baleen was harvested alongside whale oil and meat, which were also valuable commodities during the whaling era (Vieira, 2023). The extraction process involved careful removal of the baleen plates from the upper jaw of the whale, where they are attached in rows. This requires skill to avoid damaging the plates, which are made of keratin, the same protein that makes up human hair and nails (Mazzoldi et al., 2019). Once harvested, the baleen undergoes a cleaning process to remove any residual tissue or fat. This is crucial as any remaining organic material can lead to decay and compromise the integrity of the baleen (Mazzoldi et al., 2019). After cleaning, the baleen is often boiled to further sanitize it and to make it more pliable for shaping. This boiling process can also help in softening the baleen, allowing it to be bent or molded into various forms, which was particularly useful for creating items like corsets, whips, and umbrella ribs in the 18th and 19th centuries (Vieira, 2023; Mazzoldi et al., 2019). Following boiling, the baleen is typically dried and then polished to enhance its appearance. The final product can be used in a variety of applications, from fashion to functional tools. The unique properties of baleen, such as its flexibility and strength, made it a sought-after material for many industries, particularly before the advent of synthetic materials (Vieira, 2023; Mazzoldi et al., 2019). In contemporary contexts, baleen is less commonly used due to conservation efforts aimed at protecting whale populations. However, its historical significance remains a point of interest in studies of marine mammal utilization and the impact of whaling on ecosystems (Mazzoldi et al., 2019). The processing techniques developed over centuries reflect not only the ingenuity of past cultures but also the changing perceptions of whales from valuable resources to conservation icons (Mazzoldi et al., 2019).