Is there a piece of scrimshaw you’d like created? We can’t take on every request personally, but if you’d like we can certainly ask other artists if they’ve got the time and resources to fulfill your needs. Realize that ivory is illegal to sell in New York, New Jersey, and several other states, including mammoth ivory. Also, the price of the work will be negotiated between you and the artist, not scrimshaw.com, its owners or affiliates.
[contact-form to=’Questions@scrimshaw.com%26#x002c;aperkins+scrimshaw_wanted@gmail.com’ subject=’Scrimshaw Wanted’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’City and State’ type=’text’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Country’ type=’text’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’What would you like your scrimshaw on?’ type=’radio’ options=’Bone,Corian,Casein/Galalith,Cattle Horn,Mammoth (must be legal in your state%26#x002c; province and country),Man Made Ivory Alternative,Other (add to description)’/][contact-field label=’Kind of scrimshaw (necklace%26#x002c; knife handle%26#x002c; display piece%26#x002c; etc.)’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]
Scrimshaw Artists: Do you have a website, and would you like to be notified when someone would like a quote? email me at questions@scrimshaw.com and I’ll be glad to include you. Also, let me know if there’s anything that would be helpful in the contact form above.
Hi Andrew I’m interested I’m learning how to make scrim shaw . My grandmother use to go on a ship out of Maine every year and bring a piece home . Anyway im.looking to open a give shop in FL in the next 3 to 5 years and would love to learn apprentice etc . If you know of someone please let me know Thanks Erek
Hi Erek, and thanks for writing! I’ve got a couple of links on my site (https://www.scrimshaw.com/category/how-to-scrimshaw-2/page/3/), https://www.scrimshaw.com/category/how-to-scrimshaw-2/page/2/, and a couple of videos (https://youtu.be/HASAD2nUkpE), (https://youtu.be/TRvDrAmoUbQ). As far as tools go, I highly recommend Coulter tools (https://www.etsy.com/listing/204659075). For materials, I’d recommend searching for “knife scales” which can be used for their intended purpose or cut into jewelry shapes and more. Also, DolphinWhistle has some material that works – I’ve got a piece on my bench I haven’t gotten to yet but it feels really good, it’s nice and polished on the top and I’m itching to try it out: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1403348875. If you’re looking for material that looks like ivory, I’d recommend searching through GuitarPartsAndMore.com (https://guitarpartsandmore.com/index.php). Bone handled knives work well also.
Hope this helps!
Andrew
I have a scrimshaw I purchase in 1970 in Hawaii and I would be interested in selling it how should I proceed
Hi Broox, your best bet would be to contact the scrimshaw collectors guild. Provide some pictures of the work and any close-ups you can get of the artist’s initials. Hope this helps,
Andrew
I have several pieces by T. Don Angelo, including a pair of cuff links she custom made for me in the 1970’s. A wonderful artists!
Thanks Jeff! If you have some pics you’d like to share, please feel free to send them to “questions@scrimshaw.com”, I’m sure other readers would love to see them!
Because I was in the Navy and love ships, a friend gave me a piece of scrimshaw years ago that has the image of a sail ship on it. He said it’s a whale tooth, but I don’t know any other details about it. He also gave me a scrimshaw cribbage board that has what looks like Asian art carved on the underside.
I’d love to find out their value and potentially sell either one to someone who would appreciate them. Do you have any advice for me?
Hi Jeff, and thanks for writing!. Selling your items will depend on your local as well as national/international laws. You will need to check your state laws (NY,NJ,IL,HI,CA) does not allow the sale of elephant or mammoth ivory within the state or across state borders, your state may vary – some allow the sale within the state with other stipulations (age of the piece, amount if it’s incorporated within an antique, etc.). I would recommend asking at the FB group “Scrimshaw Collector’s Guild” and if you can, provide pictures as well. They’re a good group of people and won’t steer you wrong.
Hi Andrew, it has been a since I spoke to you, I am the guy who has a large scrimshaw walrus tusk that was done by Diana rice Bonnin I just spoke to a man named David Blumberg he is very interested in the piece if I do sell is there a fare starting price for negotiations I’m not looking for an outrageous price some input would be appreciated I sent photos to you about a year ago if possible email me.Thanks
Hi Daniel, aside from checking your local laws, I would recommend asking at the FB group “Scrimshaw Collector’s Guild“. They’re a good group of people.
Andrew,
I am interested in this piece you posted. Can you provide further information in regard?
Article Name Mystery Artist 36 – Andhi Scrimshaw and Sculpture
Description Beautiful scrimshaw and sculpture by the artist “Andhi” – owner looking for more information
Author Andrew Perkins
Publisher Namescrimshaw.com
Thank you,
Debra
Hi Debra, sorry if you’re getting a second reply since I responded initially to the email inquiry. No further information regarding the artist Andhi has arrived, though we’re hopeful someone can share some information. Both pieces in the articles are in private collections.
Andrew,
Information for your followers:
The artists name is Andhi Spaeth. He was employed by Heinz Lange, Northwest Arts and Crafts, Seattle Washington. Currently owned by the Lange family.
I too have similar piece, numbered differently and am interested in selling.
There is a video on YouTube – SCRIMSHAW IVORY COLLECTION Heinz Lange Estate – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6medsilCG4.
Hope this helps.
Debra
Hi….
I was wondering if you could tell
me how I could remove my post dated April 15 2019
I was given a large whale bone (rib), I have never done any scrimshaw work. Can you give me any pointers and also, is legal to sell. I have done some artwork on drums. I can draw, but have never tried any carving.
Hi Christine, and thanks for writing! I’d start on bone – such as a soup bone that has been cleaned, dried and sanded to at least 2000 grit. Another possibility is old piano keys if you can find them, or some white acrylic, just to get a feel for it. Unfortunately you cannot sell it (google CITES treaty for more information). Several other objects you can scrimshaw include the backs of plastic spoons (very inexpensive), bone knife handles, pieces of Corian (the countertop material, though these will dull your scribe quickly – that being said you can create some stunning artwork on that material!). Youtube has a number of videos of some master scrimshaw artists such as David Adams, though I’d recommend watching https://youtu.be/9ZJqQmFfdYQ https://youtu.be/nwhKPp2mn_A https://youtu.be/xfPVXFippMg.
Dear Scrimshaw.com
Can you tell me the name of any company that manufactures casein plastic? I found a few suppliers but they have a limited colour range. I and trying to find who makes it so I can enquire about custom colours. It will be used for making musical instruments.
Thank you
Robert
Hi Robert, there are precious few places making casein anymore. Rothco and Frost is where I’m going to be ordering shortly, there is another site in France, though my interests lie in the ivory color. Rods are also available from ExoticBlanks.com, if you need rounds for dots. Hope this helps,
Andrew
I have the largest scrimshaw piece done by scrimshaw artist Diana Rice Bonin it was done on a large walrus tusk she finished the piece in 1982 it took a long time for here to finish but it is one of a kind it was finished and signed in 1982 if any interest in seeing photos I would love to show them.
Hi Daniel, and thanks for writing! I’d love to see some pictures of her work, and if you can share any personal contact you may have had with her that would be wonderful too. I found this article: https://workshed.com/2008/06/06/remembering-diana-rice-bonin/ It would be a treat to write up an article about her and showcase any pictures you might be able to provide.
Hi Andrew I met Diana at a ivory shop in Seattle center I was working as a contractor at the center she agreed to do a large scrimshaw scene of a bald eagle flying over the mountains in Alaska it took her 11/2 years to finish the piece because the scene was so large it was done on a walrus tusk its one of her last scrimshaw she had worked on I would love to send you some photos this is a signed Piece I will take some photos I have had some interested buyers in the past but never wanted to sell where should I send the photos.
Hello Daniel if you still have the piece I would be interest in viewing it. Give me a call 516-662-2187
We purchased two scrimshaw art works at the Alaska Fur Exchange in Anchorage, AK in June of 2003. One was done by George Vukson and the other by Dennis Richards. At the time we were told that Dennis Richards was in jail!
They are both beautiful pieces. Does anyone know of either of these artists?
Thanks
Hi Marlene, I was able to find this: https://www.artistcovegallery.com/george-vukson.html#/ which gives some information on Geoge Vukson. Dennis Richards does not show up, though a D. Richards brouht up an artist from the late 1800’s: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/d-richards-alaskan-scrimshaw-walrus-tusk-284-c-ad24ff7a5a Hope this helps. If you’d like, I could put a picture of the Dennis Richards up as a “mystery artist” if you’d like.
Dear Scrimshaw.com
I am looking for information on Norwood Marlow, working on whale’s teeth in the late 1970’s, between the Caroline’s and New Bedford. I wonder if you can help.
Thanks
Bill
Hi William, and thanks for writing. I’m not familiar with Norwood Marlow, but I’d be happy to put up some pics and any information you may have as a Mystery Artist – sometimes that’s all it takes to get others to respond.
I recently bought a scrimshawed horn cup signed by a d. Orvis. I’m trying to get information on this artist. Can you direct me to a resource where I might find information? Thanks
Cathy
Hi Cathy, and thanks for writing! There is a wonderful resource for known signatures at http://www.scrimshawstudio.com/artist.marks.html maintained by Jim Stevens. If you are unable to find the information there, send an email to questions@scrimshaw.com with a picture of the cup and a close-up of the signature, I’ll be glad to put it up as a Mystery Artist.
–Andrew