Ishmael and Queequeg stride off to the Pequod. No whaler should set sail without their Greenland Fishery Whale-Bag

To celebrate the magnificent mammals that are whales, and to promote King’s Lynn and the Greenland Fishery’s maritime heritage, we’ve produced a set of soft leather whales. They are scaled down, of course – the largest (Blue Whale) being approximately 130cm in length and the smallest (Killer Whale) measuring around 40cm, they are in scale to each other and fairly accurate in shape and features.

They are hand-stitched, made of soft leather, beautifully supple and very tactile. They have a tiny beady glass eye and stuffed with natural felt flock filling.

Leather offcuts at the tannery

The leather is sourced from offcuts and reclaimed hides, mostly from tanneries connected to the UK shoe industry.  Because of that, the leather is natually aged and often marked – a bit like a whale’s skin.  Colour and texture of leather will vary according to availability, but mostly they’ll be blue/grey/black leather, and approx 1.5mm thick. Because of that beady eye, unfortunately they probably are not suitable as a small child’s toy. Each whale is unique and different. Included with every whale is its own calico whale-bag, with our Greenland Fishery logo printed on.

Our Leather Whales can be seen – and felt – at All Saints Craft Market in Trinity Street, Cambridge, every Saturday.
And now, they can be bought online at greenland-fishery.org.uk/stores – but you’re advised to see – and feel – before you buy.  Every whale is unique.

For each whale sold, I’ll donate £1 to Greenpeace – or any other campaign you may choose, to protect our marine wildlife.