Scrimshaw is a type of handcrafted craft made by carving whale and other marine mammal teeth and bones. It was traditionally made by sailors during the peak of whaling in the nineteenth century, but modern hobbyists may also make it. A scrimshander is someone who makes this type of craft.
The first scrimshaw pieces were tools for use on board the ship. The abundance of whale teeth and bones aboard a whaling ship, combined with the whalers’ significant free time during the night when they had no work to do, created the ideal conditions for the craft to emerge. Whale bones are a relatively simple material to work with as well.
Scrimshanders began to create more artistic pieces, either for personal use or for sale at the market, not long after. The majority of the pieces are purely decorative, preserving the shape of the tooth or bone while carving and lettering cover the surface. The first piece of scrimshaw that fits this description was made in 1817, and it tells the story of how and when the whale it came from was caught. It is anonymous, as are many older works. Naturally, whaling and other nautical scenes are popular subjects for this craft, but other designs are also common. Tools, toys, and jewelry are all examples of scrimshaw.
As the practice of whaling declined, scrimshaw production dwindled, and the ban on commercial whaling in the 1980s signaled the end of the craft on a large scale. Some scrimshaw artists, however, continue to work with materials other than bone. Antique scrimshaw is extremely valuable, and many museums have collections of it. Many other museums have smaller collections of scrimshaw, such as the Nantucket Whaling Museum and the New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts, the Kendall Whaling Museum in Connecticut, and the Hull Maritime Museum in Kingston upon Hull, England.
Modern scrimshaw in the United States can be made with pre-embargo ivory that entered the country before the sanctions took effect. Hippo ivory from hippos killed for other reasons, fossilized ivory from mastodons and ancient walrus, antlers (which animals shed yearly), and nut palm or “vegetable ivory” are all popular materials. The last type is sometimes referred to as fakeshaw, but it is the only practical and environmentally friendly way to keep the art form alive.