What is Scrimshaw?

Scrimshaw is the art of carving, engraving, or otherwise making pictures in ivory and is considered by some to be the only art form that originated in America, since the art of Scrimshaw was first practiced by sailors working on whaling ships out of New England.

The word Scrimshaw actually came from a slang expression that was used to refer to anything that was the product of a seaman's idle time, or items that were produced while engaged in the act of loafing. Today, a good example of Scrimshaw would be whittling on a stick and ending up with something that would be either decorative or even useful. While out at sea there were often several weeks, or even months, that would pass between whale sightings. It was during that time that the sailors would practice their Scrimshaw.

Some examples of Scrimshaw items were: umbrella handles, pie crimpers, ditty boxes, and various other items. There were also hinges, latches and other whale bone and ivory fittings that made the Nantucket basket famous. However, the most recognized and sought after form of Scrimshaw were the ivory whales teeth that had pictures of ships and other scenes scratched in the face of them. It is these pictures scratched into ivory of one form or another that we think of today when we hear the word Scrimshaw.

Scrimshaw was most popular in the early 1800's, when the whaling industry was at its peak. By the late 1800's, Scrimshaw as an art form, all but died away. However, in the 1960's, the popularity of Scrimshaw began to grow, as did the number of Scrimshaw artists (referred to as Scrimshanders). The re-birth of Scrimshaw has been credited to President John F. Kennedy who was an avid collector of Scrimshaw. Through the 1960's, most of the collectors interest was directed almost entirely to the illustrated teeth of the mighty sperm whale, however, raw whales teeth for new Scrimshaw works were in limited supply. In the early 1970's, the sperm whale along with other whales, were placed on the endangered species list. With this came numerous restrictions on the import and sale of whales teeth.

The sailors of the past taught us that the tooth of a sperm whale was a form of ivory, therefore, other types of ivory could be used as a substitute with equally good results. The most readily available ivory was that of the majestic African elephant. In the late 1980's, the United States, along with many other countries, placed a ban on the import of elephant ivory. There are currently only a few restrictions on the sale of elephant ivory that is already in the country. Elephant ivory is still readily available and still one of the most popular materials for today's Scrimshanders.

Scrimshanders that are still using elephant ivory today are finding that their market is shrinking almost on a daily basis. There has been so much propaganda directed towards the demise of the African elephant causing an ever increasing number of people who would not own a piece of Scrimshaw regardless of the quality or the price if it was done on a piece of elephant ivory. We fully support any effort that is effective in saving wildlife that is truly endangered. Unfortunately, many of the laws that are written to protect our wildlife only address half the problems. Hence, the conservation efforts are only half effective and often times create new problems.

Another type of ivory that is readily available is fossilized ivory from the mighty Wooly Mammoth or Mastodon, a prehistoric cousin to the elephants of today. Using ivory from the Wooly Mammoth truly does not endanger any wildlife since these great beasts have been extinct for over 10,000 years. The fossilized remains of the Wooly Mammoth are normally found in much colder climates, therefore, the ivory is often found in relatively good condition. The outer layers of the Mammoth tusks may be cracked and discolored, but it makes excellent knife handle material for custom knife makers. The closer to the center of the tusk you get, the better the ivory is. However, since all the natural oil has been lost through the fossilization process, even the center of the tusks will have hairline cracks. These cracks can normally be repaired using various techniques and materials making the ivory suitable for even the very finest Scrimshaw detail.

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