What is bone carving called?

Bone carving is called scrimshaw, which means any engravings or carvings done in ivory or bone. Traditionally a hobby for whalers, designs featured could be very simple, and as techniques advanced, so did the artwork. Engravings depicted detailed scenes with engraving work done with pigments for color. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic bone carvings from some of the world’s top sellers.

Carved Bone Fish

Carved Soapstone Sculpture of a Seated Inuit Holding a Bone Narwhal Tusk & Fish

$895

H 6 in W 6 in D 2 in

Carved Soapstone Sculpture of a Seated Inuit Holding a Bone Narwhal Tusk & Fish

Located in Nantucket, MA

carved bone fish in the other.

Category

Early 20th Century Canadian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Soapstone

Recent Sales

Carved Bone Koi Fish

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H 4.5 in W 9 in D 2 in

Carved Bone Koi Fish

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Koi fish carved from bone with scales, fins, and highlighted eyes.

Category

20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bone

Pair of Carved Bone Koi Fish, Priced Individually

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H 4.5 in W 9 in D 2 in

Pair of Carved Bone Koi Fish, Priced Individually

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Pair of koi fish carved from bone with scales, fins, and highlighted eyes. Priced individually.

Category

20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bone

Asian Carved Bone Figure Grouping of Man Telling a Fish Tale, 20th C.

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H 6.25 in W 4.5 in D 2.5 in

Asian Carved Bone Figure Grouping of Man Telling a Fish Tale, 20th C.

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique Chinese figural group offers carved bone depiction of a man telling a small boy a tale

Category

20th Century Asian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bone

Collection of Prisoner of War Mutton Bone Fish Gaming Counters

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H 0.5 in W 3 in D 0.2 in

Collection of Prisoner of War Mutton Bone Fish Gaming Counters

Located in London, GB

Collection of Prisoner of War mutton bone fish gaming counters A rare set of hand carved mutton

Category

Antique 1850s French Folk Art Toys

Materials

Bone

English Sheffield Bone and Silver-Plate Cased Fish Flatware Service for Six

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H 2 in W 10.25 in D 15 in

English Sheffield Bone and Silver-Plate Cased Fish Flatware Service for Six

By John Wigfall & Co.

Located in Philadelphia, PA

English bone-handled and silver plate fish cutlery set in a lined Walnut box, circa 1889-1910. Set

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Beaux Arts Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

20 Prisoner of War Mutton Bone Fish Gaming Counters

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H 2.5 in W 0.5 in D 0.1 in

20 Prisoner of War Mutton Bone Fish Gaming Counters

Located in London, GB

20 prisoner of war bone fish gaming counters A small collection of 20 late 19th century prisoner

Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Folk Art Toys

Materials

Bone

c.1930s-1940s Blue Plastic Lucite Reversed Handcarved Fish Bone Bangle Bracelet

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c.1930s-1940s Blue Plastic Lucite Reversed Handcarved Fish Bone Bangle Bracelet

Located in Thiensville, WI

fish bone design bypass bangle bracelet. Reversed hand carved horizontal fish bone pattern repeated

Category

Mid-20th Century Bangles

c.1930s-1940s Clear Plastic Lucite Reversed Handcarved Fish Bone Bangle Bracelet

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c.1930s-1940s Clear Plastic Lucite Reversed Handcarved Fish Bone Bangle Bracelet

Located in Thiensville, WI

bone design bypass bangle bracelet. Reversed hand carved horizontal fish bone pattern repeated around

Category

Mid-20th Century Bangles

18th Century Eskimo Bag Fastener

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H 7 in W 1.5 in

18th Century Eskimo Bag Fastener

Located in New York, NY

A subtly textured bag fastener in the form of a salmon. Carved of caribou bone, this lovely fish

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Native American Objects

Japanese Shibayama Cabinet, Meiji Period, circa 1890

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H 90 in W 55 in D 17 in

Japanese Shibayama Cabinet, Meiji Period, circa 1890

Located in Seattle, WA

, and bone. Carved detail to side panels. Carved bone fish door pulls. Total 90" height by 55" width by

Category

Antique 1890s Japanese Cabinets

Pair of 19th c. Carved Bone Carp Fish

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H 13 in W 11 in D 7 in

Pair of 19th c. Carved Bone Carp Fish

Located in San Francisco, CA

Whimsical pair of Asian-style carved & stained bone carp studies from the 19th c. Wonderful for

Category

Antique 19th Century Sculptures

Antique Asian Carved-Bone Sculpture of a Koi: 1930s

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H 12 in W 12 in D 9 in

Antique Asian Carved-Bone Sculpture of a Koi: 1930s

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Exquisitely detailed carved and applicated from bone Koi Fish. Signed by the artist. Please

Category

Vintage 1930s Asian Sculptures

Materials

Bone

19th Century Carved Wood Japanese Fish Trade Sign

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H 7 in W 29 in D 0.25 in

19th Century Carved Wood Japanese Fish Trade Sign

Located in Essex, MA

A finely hand carved wood Japanese trade sign for a fish vendor, equally detailed on both sides

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Folk Art Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bone, Wood

People Also Browsed

Mid-Century Era Inuit Soapstone Carving of a Standing Hunter

$2,495

H 9 in W 3.5 in D 3 in

Mid-Century Era Inuit Soapstone Carving of a Standing Hunter

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

This well executed sculpture is signed by an unknown artist and originated from Canada and dates to approximately 1960 and done in the Mid-Century Inuit style. The sculpture is compo...

Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Soapstone

Carved Soapstone Sculpture of an Inuit Leaning Forward, Holding Bag at Feet

$850

H 8.5 in W 3 in D 6 in

Carved Soapstone Sculpture of an Inuit Leaning Forward, Holding Bag at Feet

Located in Nantucket, MA

Carved Black Soapstone Inuit figure stooped over, grasping a bag at his feet.

Category

Early 20th Century Canadian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Soapstone

Inuit Soapstone Seal

$700

H 3.55 in W 7.09 in D 1.78 in

Inuit Soapstone Seal

Located in Mexico City, MX

An Inuit green seal. The piece has a signature: "Kilabuk".

Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Soapstone

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Carved Bone Fish For Sale on 1stDibs

Find a variety of carved bone fish available on 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, bone and glass, all carved bone fish available were constructed with great care. Carved bone fish have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 20th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. mid-century modern and folk art carved bone fish are consistently popular styles. There have been many well-made carved bone fish over the years, but those made by Ryan Decker are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Carved Bone Fish?

Prices for carved bone fish can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, carved bone fish begin at $252 and can go as high as $22,381, while the average can fetch as much as $1,510.