Scrimshaw Work from Whaling Days
Antique Decorated Whale Teeth and Walrus Tusks
In the past whalers often scratched designs onto the teeth of Sperm Whales. Modern scrimshanders now use a variety of other materials to continue this tradition.
In the eighteenth century whalers often filled their spare time by carving or scratching designs on the unwanted teeth of the whales they had caught. The final product (decorated whale teeth) is known as scrimshaw.
History of Scrimshaw
In the early part of the eighteenth century whaling was a slow business, and since the sailors could not work at night they had a lot of spare time on their hands. Many passed the time by using a sharp object to scratch designs on whale teeth. Once the design was finished soot or tobacco juice was rubbed in to give contrast. Since this was done onboard a rolling ship most of this early work is poorly executed, and this is often helpful when trying to decide if a piece is old or modern.
Modern Scrimshanders
The tradition of carving onto whale teeth (and other ivory) continues to this day, and the people who do it are known as ‘scrimshanders’. Modern scrimshaw work is much more detailed than the antique stuff – the scrimshanders have a stable platform, good lighting and a range of specialist tools. Modern work is also often highly coloured, with more than the sooty blacks and tobacco-browns of the past. (Of course it is possible to do modern work that looks old, and this can become a kind of forgery if there is an attempt to pass off modern work as – valuable – antique pieces!).
Materials Used Originally
- Sperm Whale teeth were abundant, conveniently sized and shaped, and easy to work. These were probably the most widely used vehicles.
- Walrus tusks were sometimes obtained from trappers, and while they are rarer that Sperm Whale teeth many examples are known
- Narwhal tusks are also found occasionally, either whole (very long!) or cut into sections.
- Other whale bones (not ‘whalebone’) and teeth were used much more rarely.
Modern Materials
The supply of fresh whale teeth has dried up, as has the supply of other forms of ivory, but there are still stocks of older materials legally available to modern scrimshanders. Unlikely as it might seem fossil woolly mammoth tusks are sometimes used, as is the ivory stripped off old piano keys.
Prehistoric Work
As soon as mankind began to use bone and ivory tools we find examples of scratched designs and carving, but the term ‘scrimshaw’ refers only to much more recent work. Originally the term referred to any tool made (by sailors) from bones or teeth, later being restricted to decorative pieces.
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