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

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.

Mystery Artist #8 Found!

Posted on January 9, 2013December 27, 2022 by Andrew Perkins

Scrimshaw "Allen" on bracelet. Artist unknown — Scrimshaw “Allen” on bracelet. Artist unknown

“I cannot find any info on the artist of this piece. i am not sure if the artist’s name is Allen, or it’s the name of the ship. I have searched, and searched. if i type in Allen scrimshaw artist, i get plenty of hits for the James Allen ship, that has many, many replicas.

“it would be greatly appreciated, if you could shed some light. the bracelet is silver, very small….(scrimshaw is less than an inch and a half), and came from California…all I know.”

Anyone know the artist? It is reminiscent of “Brum” ships, but Eduardo and his brothers were east coast, and there are some lines in the rigging that they would not have made, so I am figuring a west coast artist. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks to all who have helped unite previous mystery artists to the owners of their fine work!

From Allen’s son:

Hello,

While doing an unrelated internet search, I came across your post on mystery artist #8 “Allen”. Comments are closed now, but I would like to confirm that piece is by Allen Scott, my father. Most of his work was signed Allen, some as Allen Scott, and much later, as PMO, or Patrick Michael O’Malley. That piece would have been done at our home/shop in New Bedford, MA in the 70s-early 80s.

I know it’s a bit late for comments, but hopefully this will “close the case”.

I’m happy to answer any questions you or your subscribers may have on this matter.

Cheers,

Travis Scott

Mystery Artist #7 on scrimshaw.com

Posted on December 31, 2012November 11, 2015 by Andrew

On the heels of being contacted by a former Mystery Artist

(see Philip Hayde), we have another Mystery Artist! This fine piece was brought to our attention from Michael, who would love to know the artist who signed the work “MUL” or “HUL” – though it could be other initials as well. It is either whale or elephant ivory, and has been expertly crafted onto a mahogany piece. We’re contacting the owner to see if the setting is just decorative or if it is a functional piece as well. The scrimshaw artist shows good detail, using mostly a line technique, and we really enjoy the contrast between the whale above and below the water, with the waves obscuring some of the color. Anyone knowing the artist may contact us at aperkins@scrimshaw.com.

Mystery Artist #6 – Mateus

Posted on November 13, 2012November 11, 2015 by Andrew

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/