Scrimshaws made to be seen
Although the craft of scrimshanding was initially an art form designed to stop boredom and perhaps give pleasure to oneself or one’s loved ones, in Victorian times it also took on commercial forms. Smaller works of art were already sold in the port cities and many a person asked for a special piece. But the great demand for specially made pieces did not begin until the 1830s and then mainly among the American whalers. The counterpart to the men who practised the craft of scrimshanding was quilting among the women.
It was not easy to carve and decorate a tooth or other parts of a whale into a work of art, it took patience, time and a lot of practice. There was no tutor, only a few hints from the cooper or carpenter. The right choice of tooth was important to make the work as perfect as possible. However, the buyers had to expect cracks or inclusions. And yet, works of art were created that show what artists the men at sea were. Here are a few of these wonderful pieces.
Scrimshaw of a young gentleman with fancy embroidered vest with long tails and holding a top hat in a poylchromed frame, c. 1850 (x) - The “Paris Fashions for June” tooth from New Bedford depicts a fashionable young lady copied from the “The Illustrated London News”, published Sat. May 26, 1860 (x)
The classic decorated teeth were not only a popular decorative element at home but also popular with officers at sea to decorate their cabins.
An engraved sperm whale tooth with an Eagle and a bark, 1860 (x) - Scrimshaw of two ladies, c. 1860 (x)
Watch Hutch with a pair of Polychromed and scrimshawed whale’s teeth, circa 1840 (x) - Watch Hutch with whaling scenes on two teeth and the plate, c. 1850 (x)
A very popular men’s accessory to hang the pocket watch and present it decoratively.
A Gentleman’s Watch Hutch, circa 1870 (x) - Not a classic watch hutch, but a watch holder and snuff box, French, 18th century (x)
Whale Ivory Sewing Box, c. 1830 (x) - Sewing Thread Spool Caddy, c. 1850 (x)
For the ladies who kept their sewing materials or trinkets there.
Jagging wheels, also known as pie crimpers
Probably made in 1840, this jagging wheel is elaborately carved and inlaid with wood, mother of pearl, abalone and tortoiseshell (x)
The handle of this whale ivory jagging wheel is encased in tortoiseshell that is inlaid with abalone cut in the shapes of diamonds and hearts, c. 1840 (x)
Nursing Rocker, circa 1850, naïve wood construction with the skull of a small baleen whale back-splat with diamond inlays throughout and three blood ark clam shells. (x)
Whale Ivory and Whalebone Liqueur Service, circa 1870, each cup carved of a single whale tooth, the bottle carved of a single sperm whale tooth, the circular tray carved of a piece of panbone (x)
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