AoS / HP crossover anyone?
I came across this rather fabulous item in a recent auction catalogue from Charles Miller Maritime Auctioneers. The catalogue entry reads as follows:
An exceptionally fine and large Narwhal (Monodon Monoceros) Tusk presented to Cornelius Fudge, 1881
of typical barley-twist form, polished overall and of mellow butterscotch hue -- 98¾in. (251cm.) high, mounted on a later recessed slate base through felt-lined lignum vitæ spool bearing Government marks and with silvered plaque engraved PRESENTED TO CONRELIUS FUDGE, MASTER AT ARMS / BY HIS MESSMATES, AS A MARK OF RESPECT & ESTEEM / ON HIS LEAVING H.M.S. "LONDON" AT ZANZIBAR / TO RETIRE FROM THE SERVICE. SEPTEMBER, 1881, overall height including base 101¾in. (258.5cm.)
This Officer joined the Marines in 1873 and served mainly aboard the Duke of Wellington with shorter stretches aboard Sultan and Thunderer. He joined the London on 1st September 1880 and left almost exactly a year later on 7th September 1881 to serve one last year aboard the Duke of Wellington before retiring on 13th January 1882. In modern times his name has become more famously associated with the Harry Potter stories in which the Minister for Magic has the same name - although probably a coincidence, it is pleasing to note that in former times narwhal tusks were believed to retain magical powers associated with unicorns.
Fudge's narwhal tusk had an estimated value of £15,000 - £20,000, but it sold for £36,000! No doubt the Minister for Magic would have been delighted!