Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 16

7990 Scrimshaw of vertically engraved whale tooth dated around 1850

$1,901.98List Price

About the Item

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 cormorant dangled in his hands. On the restro the following inscription: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Measurements 9x3.5x2.3 cm - inches 3.55x1.4x0.9. 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: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)Diameter: 1.4 in (3.56 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: LU1020237482812

Antique Late 19th Century Northern Irish Nautical Objects

Materials

Other

19th Century Irish Folk Art Whale Tooth

$4,500

H 3.5 in W 2 in D 2 in

Antique Map of Marne, France – Engraved by Levasseur, 1850s

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique Map of Marne, France – Engraved by Levasseur, 1850s This beautifully detailed 19th-century engraved map of the Marne department in northeastern France was created by the ren...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Maps

Materials

Paper

Antique Map of Marne, France – Engraved by Levasseur, 1850s

$261

H 10.28 in W 12.8 in D 0.01 in

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

H 29.5 in W 6.3 in D 1.38 in

Antique Engraved Map of Manche with Mont Saint-Michel, France, circa 1850

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique Map of Manche, France – Mont-St-Michel and Cherbourg Region – c.1850 This highly decorative mid-19th century map of Manche, engraved by A. Vuillemin and published by Levasse...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Maps

Materials

Paper

Antique Engraved Map of Manche with Mont Saint-Michel, France, circa 1850

$344

H 12.8 in W 10.28 in D 0.01 in

Map of Cher France with Bourges, Sancerre Vineyards and Engraved Vignettes, 1850

Located in Langweer, NL

Map of Charente-Inférieure France with La Rochelle and Coastal Vineyards, 19th c Description: This decorative 19th-century map of the former department of Charente-Inférieure, now k...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Maps

Materials

Paper

Map of Cher France with Bourges, Sancerre Vineyards and Engraved Vignettes, 1850

$142

H 12.8 in W 10.28 in D 0.01 in

Engraved Brass and Copper Snuff Box, English, Circa 1850

Located in Nantucket, MA

19th Century English brass snuff box with copper top and bottom, remnants of old decoration throughout, circa 1850.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Brass, Copper

Engraved Brass and Copper Snuff Box, English, Circa 1850

$525

H 1.5 in W 6.5 in D 2.5 in

New Bedford Whale Ship Model Of "Cortez"

Located in Norwell, MA

New Bedford whale ship model "Cortez". Full wood model, fully rigged. Made by Captain Hall. Provenance: Original owner purchased ship model from the New Yor...

Category

Vintage 1930s North American Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

New Bedford Whale Ship Model Of "Cortez"

$18,500

H 25 in W 32 in D 8 in

A rare scrimshaw decorated horn signed by C.H. Wood

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

A rare scrimshaw decorated horn signed by C.H. Wood. Each curled horn is ornately carved with important motif’s relating to the Battle of Trafalgar and iconic battleships. Our two ho...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Nautical Objects

Materials

Horn

A rare scrimshaw decorated horn signed by C.H. Wood

$11,922

H 4.25 in W 3.5 in D 28 in

Countye of Monmouth, Dated 1610

By John Speed

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

The countye of Monmouth with the situation of the townshire described Anno, 1610 The reverse with Monmouthshire, Chapter VI and an alphabetical list of towns. In a beautiful Flemish oak polished and gilded frame Cartographer: John Speed...

Category

Antique 1610s English Baroque Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Countye of Monmouth, Dated 1610

$5,481

H 20.48 in W 15.36 in D 0.4 in

Antique Print of a Vessel c.1850

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique print titled Nave il Cesare l'Augusto'. Etching with hand coloring, published circa 1850. Signed Leveschi (?).

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of a Vessel c.1850

$772

H 21.34 in W 26.66 in D 0.79 in

More From This Seller

View All

1844 French Antique Nautical print Engraved Portolano of Syrie by Antoine Roux

By Antoine Roux

Located in Milan, IT

Antique portolano, nautical map of Syrie engraved on a copper plate by Antoine Roux, Marseille France 1844, from his work Recueil des principaux plans des ports et de Rades de la Mer...

Category

Antique 1840s French Nautical Objects

Materials

Paper

1844 French Antique Nautical print Engraved Portolano of Syrie by Antoine Roux

$534

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

$3,090

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

$1,961

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

$1,307

Brass round section telescope with leather-covered handle 1850

Located in Milan, IT

Brass round-section telescope with leather-covered handle, two-extension focus. English manufacture from the mid-19th century. Complete with base for support made of custom wood and ...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Brass round section telescope with leather-covered handle 1850

$1,723

Brass round section telescope with leather handle England 1850s

Located in Milan, IT

Brass round-sectioned telescope with leather-covered handle, focusing at one extension. English manufacture of the mid-19th century. Complete with base for support made of custom woo...

Category