Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 17

Scrimshaw of engraved whale tooth depicting naked woman with very 1850s face

About the Item

Scrimshaw of an engraved whale tooth, depicting naked woman with a very end, with long hair and turgid breasts flying the American flag, on the back large vessel with sails unfurled with islands in the background, on the side the name of the ship TASMANIA. Datable to around the mid-19th century. Bon état. Measures 8.6x3x2.5 cm - inches 3.4x1.3x1. 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: 3.4 in (8.64 cm)Diameter: 1.3 in (3.31 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Teeth
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1850
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Milan, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1020237600462
More From This SellerView All
  • Scrimshaw of engraved whale tooth depicting the Captain F. Swain 1850
    Located in Milan, IT
    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 f...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Teeth

  • 7990 Scrimshaw of vertically engraved whale tooth dated around 1850
    Located in Milan, IT
    Scrimshaw of a vertically engraved whale tooth datable to around the mid-19th century depicting an old sailor with a beard and long hair holding leaning over one shoulder a cormoran...
    Category

    Antique 1850s Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Teeth

  • Scrimshaw of excellently made engraved whale's tooth dated around 1850
    Located in Milan, IT
    Scrimshaw of an engraved and beautifully crafted whale tooth dated around the mid-19th century depicting vessel with full sails under sail, on the back a lady in a long dress with in...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Teeth

  • Engraved whale tooth scrimshaw of fine workmanship datable around 1850
    Located in Milan, IT
    Scrimshaw of an engraved whale tooth, fine workmanship datable to around mid-19th century, length 11.7 cm, depicting whaler with men aboard, boat rowing with 6 whalers one of them i...
    Category

    Antique 1850s Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Teeth

  • Scrimshaw of an engraved whale tooth dated 1861 depicting SHIP NOLAN
    Located in Milan, IT
    Scrimshaw of an engraved whale tooth dated 1861, depicting on one side large sailboat with sails unfurled of excellent workmanship and underneath the name SHIP NOLAN. On the back, a ...
    Category

    Antique 1860s Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Teeth

  • Scrimshaw of engraved orca tooth native to the Mariana Islands semi-nude 1850s
    Located in Milan, IT
    Scrimshaw of an engraved orca tooth depicting native of the Mariana Islands semi-nude, above the head the initials R.F. On the back bow vessel, tropical beach with palm trees and rocks and the inscription: on the MARIANA Is. The Lovely native girls...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Teeth

You May Also Like
  • Antique 1850s Open Face Remontoir 800 Silver Pocket Watch 10 Rubis Glass Display
    Located in Dayton, OH
    Antique mid 19th century open face remontoir pocket watch. A remontoir (french: remonter – 'to wind') is a pocket watch in which the key winding...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Collectible Jewelry

    Materials

    Brass

  • 19th Century Irish Folk Art Whale Tooth
    Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
    Irish Folk Art. This sperm whale tooth was etched during the 19th century, in Ireland. There'sa a drinking sailor on one side, and a barmaid on the other -...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century Northern Irish Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Other

  • Spanish, 1850s Fair Carousel Wooden Dog
    Located in Marbella, ES
    Spanish, vintage hand painted wooden dog with stuck out tongue, from an old fair ground Carousel.
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

    Materials

    Wood

  • 19th Century Italian Porcelain Maiden with Child Statue, 1850s
    By Capodimonte
    Located in LEGNY, FR
    Beautiful 19th century Italian porcelain Maiden and her child statue from the 1850s. A damage at the back of the maiden has been renovated. Beautiful qu...
    Category

    Antique 1850s European Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Porcelain

  • Lithographic print on paper depicting the muscular system of a neck, France 1850
    Located in Milan, IT
    An anatomical lithographic print on paper, depicting a cross section of the muscular system of the neck. Black lacquered fir wood frame with golden ramin wood batting...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century French Prints

    Materials

    Glass, Wood, Paper

  • Lithographic print on paper depicting the muscular system of a neck, France 1850
    Located in Milan, IT
    An anatomical lithographic print on paper, depicting a cross section of the muscular system of the neck. Black lacquered fir wood frame with golden ramin wood batting...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century French Prints

    Materials

    Glass, Wood, Paper

Recently Viewed

View All