Scrimshaw whale tooth engraving of fine workmanship dated around 1850

View Similar Items

Shepherd's View of & Around Regent's Park : 37 Engravings in Fine Binding

19th Century Irish Folk Art Whale Tooth

historical Christ cross made of silver, around 1850, hallmarked Naples Italy

Rare Scrimshaw Decorated Horn

Historic 1857 Map of North-East Africa & Arabia – Fine Engraving

Fine Pair of Floor Globes by J & G Cary, Dated 1820 and 1833

Fine Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Spoon, c. 1850

Fine Pair of Bronze Cannon by McAndrew and Woore English, circa 1850

New Bedford Whale Ship Model Of "Cortez"

"The Masterpieces of Engraving"

Countye of Monmouth, Dated 1610

Antique Print of a Vessel 'c.1850'

About the Item

Scrimshaw of an engraved whale tooth, of fine workmanship datable to around the mid-19th century, length 10.8 cm, depicting small rowing boat with sail and 6 men on board, one of them in the act of harpooning a whale larger than the boat. On the sail is marked No. 1. On the back of the tooth is engraved with the following phrase: Crew of the Nonsuch about to fasten to a Sperm Whale. Good original patina condition. Measures 10.8x4.5x3- inches 4.5x1.6x1.4. The last photo is the gift box. 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 entertainment to occupy time during the long hours aboard; this art form consisted of a process of carving and engraving 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: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)Diameter: 1.6 in (4.07 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Teeth
Period:
1850-1859
Date of Manufacture:
1850
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Milan, IT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1020237324922

More From This Seller

View 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

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

$2,598

Raro scrimshaw di grande dente di balena in verticale a bassorilievo un marinaio

Located in Milan, IT

Raro scrimshaw di un grande dente di balena raffigurante in verticale a bassorilievo il profilo di un baleniere barbuto e con cappello in testa, altezza cm 16. Databile attorno alla...

Category

Antique 1850s Nautical Objects

Materials

Teeth

Raro scrimshaw di grande dente di balena in verticale a bassorilievo un marinaio

$8,857

Round-section brass telescope with mahogany-lined handle 1850

Located in Milan, IT

Round-section brass telescope with mahogany-lined handle, four-extension focus. English manufacture from the mid-19th century. Good condition signs of wear and tear, fully functional...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Round-section brass telescope with mahogany-lined handle 1850

$1,948

Spyglass round section brass and leather focus 3 extensions 1850

Located in Milan, IT

Round-section brass telescope with leather-covered handle and three-extension focus, complete with sunshade extension and dust cover tabs. English manufacture of the mid-19th centur...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Spyglass round section brass and leather focus 3 extensions 1850

$1,299

Round section brass telescope with mahogany wood handle 1850s

Located in Milan, IT

Round-section brass telescope with mahogany wood handle, three-extension focus, complete with dust cap. English manufacture of the mid-19th century. Maximum length cm 43, inches 16.9...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Round section brass telescope with mahogany wood handle 1850s

$1,122

Ebony, brass octant signed Hughes London made around 1830

Located in Milan, IT

Ebony wood, brass and marine ivory octant, scale from 0° to 100°,signed Hughes London made around 1830. Good condition, complete with custom-made display base made of wood and brass....

Category

Antique 1830s Nautical Objects

Materials

Wood

Ebony, brass octant signed Hughes London made around 1830

$3,070

Antique 19th Century British Regency Books

Materials

Paper

Shepherd's View of & Around Regent's Park : 37 Engravings in Fine Binding

$1,490

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

19th Century Irish Folk Art Whale Tooth

$4,500

historical Christ cross made of silver, around 1850, hallmarked Naples Italy

Located in Wien, AT

Exceptional silver cross with a figure of Christ, made in Naples, Italy, around 1850. The cross shape is typically Catholic, crafted like a piece of wood, masterfully hollowed out. ...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Biedermeier Religious Items

Materials

Silver

historical Christ cross made of silver, around 1850, hallmarked Naples Italy

$770

Rare Scrimshaw Decorated Horn

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

A rare scrimshaw decorated horn, engraved over one side with the Royal Arms countersigned and titled ship profiles for the Great Eastern, the Great Britain,...

Category

Antique 1860s English Nautical Objects

Materials

Horn

Rare Scrimshaw Decorated Horn

$11,516

Historic 1857 Map of North-East Africa & Arabia – Fine Engraving

Located in Langweer, NL

North-East Africa and Arabia Map 1857 This detailed antique print shows “Mittel- und Nord-Afrika (östl. Theil) und Arabien” meaning “Central and North Africa (eastern part) and Arab...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century German Maps

Materials

Paper

Historic 1857 Map of North-East Africa & Arabia – Fine Engraving

$437

Fine Pair of Floor Globes by J & G Cary, Dated 1820 and 1833

By George & John Cary

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

A fine pair of 15 inch floor globes by J & G Cary, dated 1820 and 1833, each set into a mahogany stand with a vase shaped support and three legs centred on a compass, one with a labe...

Category