Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw refers to any engraved or carved piece of ivory or bone. It is an artistic tradition that dates back several centuries and comprises a remarkably diverse field of examples that are still attainable at auction today.

The tradition of scrimshaw carving dates back to the late years of the 18th century, when whalers and seamen began taking advantage of the plentiful ivory and bone at sea to render incredibly artful designs. Moving beyond the creation of utilitarian tools, these craftsmen rendered everything from simple relief carvings to inset pigments and fully sculpted forms on both walrus tusks and whale bones. As a result, scrimshaw pieces became a means to commemorate life at sea as well as important cultural events.

The decimation of ivory-bearing animal species over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries led to increasingly stringent regulations on ivory consumption, which, combined with black market and illegal offerings, severely limited any continued tradition of scrimshaw carving. Antique scrimshaw pieces are a fantastic reflection of the past as much as they are reflection of a rarified art form.

Quick Facts

• Scrimshaw examples are included in some of the world's most prestigious museum collections, including the Smithsonian Museum of Art in Washington, D.C.
• A pair of scrimshaw whale teeth sold at a Christie's New York auction in 2008 for $49,000
• The origin of the name "scrimshaw" is unknown, but it did first appear in print in the early 19th century in an alternate spelling of "scrimshonting"