scrimshaw.com - An Ancient Art on Eco-Friendly Materials

Mystery Artist #12 – CONFIRMED PL = Peter LaJoie?

Posted on March 8, 2013May 2, 2013 by Andrew Perkins

Al Doucette, former owner of the Whale’s Tale in New Bedford, MA has confirmed the artist as Peter LaJoie Thank you Al, the owner will be real pleased!

had done some research online and the only scrimshander I can find

with the initials PL is Peter LaJoie. I was given this by a
boyfriend around 1976 or 1977; during high school in Cupertino,
California. I gave it the needle test and it passed with no smoke
or smell! I read that it was rumored Peter lost his eyesight and
taught his daughters to carry on the craft. Could this be an
earlier work; before he lost sight?

I hope the pictures are okay, I’m a bit of a novice.

And, thanks for any information you can give!

Mystery Artist #11 – Tiger Ring with initials HM or HN

Posted on February 19, 2013February 24, 2013 by Andrew Perkins

Tiger ring with the initials HM or HN in the lower left hand Corner - Mystery Artist #11 — Click on picture for full-size image

side view of the tiger ring - mystery artist #11 — Side view. Click for full size image

Mystery Artist 11 close-up of initials "HN or HM — Close-up of initials. Click for larger view

Bought in Indiana in the early 1980’s, this piece is inset in a ring. The colorized tiger is scribed on a white substance that was said to be mammoth ivory. Inside of the ring is stamped “Sterling”. Note: While most cuts of ivory do show some grain, in some instances when the ivory is cut wide enough across the “face” (top surface), the grain may not appear unless you use a high power microscope.

There is the faintest bit of color variation in the “chin” area, also some near the initials, showing what appears to be a grain to the material. A clearer photo at the same resolution may reveal some grain. There appears to have been a slight “chipping” on the lines that create the initials, this can be due to either brittle material, slightly dull tool, or both.

If anyone knows the artist, the owner would love to know more about them and the ring. Thanks for looking!

Mystery Artist #10 – Initials MN, Eagle Head on Antler

Posted on February 6, 2013February 6, 2013 by Andrew Perkins

Nicely made bolo tie with a rustic looking eagle head. Cross-hatched and somewhat rough, this scrimshaw bolo has a nice antique look to it. The crazing in the upper left is typical of many bone and antler pieces as is the slight brown color toward the center. The antler is also known as a “button” and are often carved or made into buttons as well as scrimshawed. Unknown as to what animal this came from – whether elk, deer or other.

The piece came from Maryland, though it’s origins are unknown before that time.

If anyone knows of the artist “MN”, the owner would love to know more about the piece, the artist and it’s history. If you do know of anything, please feel free to add a comment to the post. Thanks!

Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved: Scrimshaw in the New Bedford Whaling Museum

Posted on January 28, 2013January 28, 2013 by Andrew Perkins

Ingenious Contrivances Cover

Jack Chang brought this book to our attention: Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved: Scrimshaw in the New Bedford Whaling Museum

A coffee table book detailing 700 of the over 5000 pieces of scrimshaw at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Beautifully photographed, you can see crimpers, canes, umbrellas, swifts and more all carved to pass the time or sell after their journey was done, or in ports they would stop at to enhance their wages.

Thank you Jack, and thanks to Stuart M. Frank for taking the time

Mystery Artist #9 – SSL?

Posted on January 23, 2013November 11, 2015 by Andrew Perkins

Opposite side of Mystery Artist #9 Folder showing the rope

We have another mystery artist who had done a beautiful ship on what appears to be walrus ivory, though we could be mistaken as to the material. A two bladed folder, this has a piece of rope scrimshawed on to the back of it and the initials “SSL”. If anyone knows about the artist, the owner would love to know more about it! Leave a comment if you know, and we’ll update this post once we find out the general vicinity of the piece.