Items Similar to Scrimshaw of engraved whale tooth depicting the Captain F. Swain 1850

Scrimshaw of whale tooth with whaler named Fox and engraved Greek vase 1850s

Scrimshaw of vertically engraved orca tooth depicting vessel mid-19th century

Rare scrimshaw of large whale tooth in vertical bas-relief a sailor

Early 18th Century Engraving of the Northern Whale Fishery, circa 1720

Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved Scrimshaw, New Bedford Whaling Museum

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a Double Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 13

Scrimshaw of engraved whale tooth depicting the Captain F. Swain 1850

About the Item

Scrimshaw of an engraved whale tooth, depicting on one side the half-bust of the smartly dressed and handsome Captain F. Swain. On the Back the inscription Master The WHALER SWAN framed by a rich cartouche. Datable to around the mid-19th century. Bon état. Measures 10x3.5x3 inches 4x1.4x1.3. The word scrimshaw refers to an art form (and the various products of this art) that developed aboard American whaling ships between 1745 and 1759 as a means of recreation to occupy time during the long hours aboard; this art form consisted of a process of carving and carving whale bones and teeth, with which a wide range of both everyday and ornamental objects were made, which were usually made as souvenirs for members of one's family. Nella scelta dei materiali il primo era sicuramente il dente d'avorio del capodoglio. Solo la punta del dente era liscia ed era necessario preparare il resto della superficie ruvida lucidandola. Il dente era ben immerso in acqua salata o calda, spesso con l'aggiunta di potassio. Quindi veniva utilizzata una lima per strofinare e arrotondare la superficie, e infine una carta vetrata fine per completare il processo. L'ultima fase della lucidatura veniva eseguita con pomice o cenere e poi il dente veniva strofinato ancora con il palmo della mano. Each step had to be performed very slowly so as not to affect the smooth surface of the tooth. In terms of subjects for scrimshandering, the most common were a drawing of a ship or scenes of cetacean capture, made with a needle or knife, or an appropriate blade: for example, thanks to Herman Melville we know that some whalers had boxes of dentist's tools specially designed for scrimshandering. The origin of scrimshandering, as the whalers called it, i.e., the art of making scrimshaw, is a mystery: theories range from locating its origin in Eskimo culture or with Native Americans to emphasizing the influence of South Sea islanders. La spiegazione di Edouard A. Stackpole (1903 -1993), giornalista americano, scrittore e storico di caccia alle balene, è forse la più plausibile: lo scrimshaw sarebbe stato semplicemente lo sviluppo marittimo dell'antica arte di intagliare l'avorio, così come era stata praticata per secoli, e in quanto forma d'arte popolare non sarebbe stato altro che un adattamento da parte dei balenieri americani di un antico mestiere.

Dimensions:

Height: 4 in (10.16 cm)Diameter: 1.4 in (3.56 cm)

Materials and Techniques:

Teeth

Period:

Mid-19th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1850

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

Milan, IT

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU1020237661032

More From This Seller

View All

Scrimshaw of whale tooth with whaler named Fox and engraved Greek vase 1850s

Located in Milan, IT

Scrimshaw of an engraved whale tooth, datable to around the mid-19th century, of fine workmanship length cm 12.5, depicting on one side whaling ship with islands and birds in the ba...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Nautical Objects

Materials

Bone

Scrimshaw of whale tooth with whaler named Fox and engraved Greek vase 1850s

$3,362

Scrimshaw of vertically engraved orca tooth depicting vessel mid-19th century

Located in Milan, IT

Scrimshaw of a vertically engraved hour's tooth depicting a vessel bow to left flag of the United Kingdom, above li initials L.G.F. On the back vase with beautiful plant decoration s...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Nautical Objects

Materials

Teeth

Scrimshaw of vertically engraved orca tooth depicting vessel mid-19th century

$2,203

Rare scrimshaw of large whale tooth in vertical bas-relief a sailor

Located in Milan, IT

Rare scrimshaw of a large whale tooth depicted vertically in bas-relief the profile of a bearded whaler with hat on his head, height 16 cm. Datable to around the mid-19th century. O...

Category

Antique 1850s Nautical Objects

Materials

Teeth

Rare scrimshaw of large whale tooth in vertical bas-relief a sailor

$8,697

Scrimshaw of whale tooth engraved with 1820s truncated pyramid cippus and Man

Located in Milan, IT

Scrimshaw of an engraved whale's tooth, depicting on one side, truncated pyramid cippus culminating with a half sphere and surmounted at the top by a six-pointed star, symbolism trac...

Category

Antique 1820s Nautical Objects

Materials

Teeth

Scrimshaw of whale tooth engraved with 1820s truncated pyramid cippus and Man

$2,551

Antimony sculpture depicting sailor French manufacture early 1900s

Located in Milan, IT

Antimony sculpture depicting the figure of a sailor, French manufacture from the early 1900s. The beautifully crafted sculpture captures the elegant and athletic bearing of a tall, s...

Category

Early 20th Century Nautical Objects

Materials

Metal

Antimony sculpture depicting sailor French manufacture early 1900s

$2,145

Pair bookends on black marble base depicting brass sailboat

Located in Milan, IT

Pair of bookends on black marble base depicting brass sailboat. English manufacture of the 1950s. Measurements 13x9x16.5 cm - inches 5.1x3.6x6.5. The last photo is the gift box.

Category

Vintage 1950s Nautical Objects

Materials

Marble

Pair bookends on black marble base depicting brass sailboat

$1,681

Antique 1720s Dutch Baroque Prints

Materials

Paper

Early 18th Century Engraving of the Northern Whale Fishery, circa 1720

$2,400

Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved Scrimshaw, New Bedford Whaling Museum

Located in valatie, NY

Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved: Scrimshaw in the New Bedford Whaling Museum by Stuart M Frank. Stated 1stEd hardcover with dust jacket. By the mi...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Books

Materials

Paper

Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved Scrimshaw, New Bedford Whaling Museum

$295

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a Double Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850

Located in Nantucket, MA

19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie with a Double Decker Ship of the Line, ca 1850, depicting a larboard side view of a square-rigged double decker warship under standing rigging, ...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Folk Art Nautical Objects

Materials

Wool

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a Double Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850

$3,800

Antique Sailor's Folk Art Woolie of a Single Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850

Located in Nantucket, MA

Antique Sailor's Folk Art Woolie of a Single Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850, a sailor's folk art woolwork picture handcrafted of woolen and silk yarn in a bold variety of stitch...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Folk Art Nautical Objects

Materials

Wool, Silk

Antique Sailor's Folk Art Woolie of a Single Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850

$2,400

Antique Iron Whale Flensing Knife

Located in Montreal, QC

From the days of Moby Dick, this heavy tool was used to remove blubber from a whale carcass. The triangular blade is cast at one end of a long cylindrical handle, the other end is wr...

Category

Antique 1850s English Nautical Objects

Materials

Iron

Antique Iron Whale Flensing Knife

$950

Large 19th Century Presentation Half Hull Model of a Whale Ship

Located in Nantucket, MA

19th Century Presentation Half Hull Model of a Whale Ship, circa 1850, a large plank on frame model of a bluff-bowed and wide abeam whale ship. The model wa...

Category