For the sailors who pursued them, the whale was thought to be a monster – an oceanic god – perhaps even Satan himself. Though gentle by nature, these giants of the sea were hunted for the endless riches they provided. Oil and wax provided light for centuries while massive bones and teeth were traded amongst men. Certain species have baleen – a soft, bristled grill hanging from their jaws – used to filter through great gulps of water in search of smaller creatures to devour. With a twisted paper yarn entwined with coarse linen, Baleen is a tribute to these colossal cetaceans – to their wonder and mystery – to a beauty, once eclipsed.