The Mystery scrimshaw artist for November 2012 scrimshawed a whale tooth and signed it “Mateus”. This is a whale tooth currently in Ontario Canada. “Mateus” is also the name of a wine as well as the name of a palace in Portugal. We’re not sure who the artist is or was – can you help? Below are the pics of the whale tooth and scrimshaw.
Update! See https://www.scrimshaw.com/mystery-artist-6-artist-possibly-found/
I enjoy perusing your site. Thanks!
Thanks! Been busy with a book on gardening, hoping to get back into scrimshaw again real soon.
Amazing Site, Keep up the excellent work. Thanks for your time!.
Thanks!
Hello!
I forgot to respond and it completely slipped my mind!
The woman claiming it is her fathers is actually my mom! haha!
I told her about this page and when she left a comment I don’t think she realized I had already left one. Mystery solved!
This is my fathers work, Ernesto Ramos Mateus.
I might be able to help you. My grandfather is a Portuguese artist who made everything from metal sculptures to boats in bottles. Particularly he worked on etching whale teeth (scrimshaw) and has some pieces in portuguese museums and always signs with Mateus.
I’ll show him the picture and ask him if its his work, but I’m not sure; there are a lot of Mateus’s.
I’ll let you know!
-Yvonne
So neat! I was born in the Azores. I have two whales tooth carvings. My dad had so many stories about Gaspar and Bessa.
Hi Alicia, and thanks for writing! Would love to hear the stories of the Azores, my teacher Eduardo had told me of when he was young playing hockey with whale teeth in the streets as well as other stories of the ships in the harbor.
I can’t help with your quest at this time. I would however be interested if you would like to sell this piece. Please let me know if you are willing to place a price on it.
Thank you
Greg