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Scrimshaw Bolo Ties vintage unique pieces

Scrimshaw carved moose from Northern Alaska

The term "scrimshaw" refers to any type of engraving or carving done on bone or ivory. Whaling art is usually defined as engravings made by whalers on whale parts like bones and cartilage. Bones and teeth from sperm whales, baleen from other whales, and walrus tusks are the most frequent materials used to create it.

Scrimshaw, the art of carving fantastical images into bone or ivory items like whale's teeth or walrus tusks. Whale fisherman of American and Anglo-American descent carved the designs, often with a jackknife or sail needle, and then highlighted them with black colors, most often lampblack. Whaling, whaling ships, naval warfare, sailors' sweethearts, flowers, Masonic symbols, coats of arms, and the Irish harp are only few of the themes shown. Though there are examples from as early as the 17th century, the heyday of the craft was around 1830 to 1850. The Chukchi of Siberia, as well as the Eskimos of Siberia and Alaska, are among the groups of whalers that continue to use scrimshaw today.

What is scrimshaw made of exactly?

Whalers crafted items called scrimshaw out of the whale's waste, which included the animal's bones, teeth, baleen, and other similar materials. Before the commercial whaling ban in 1986, it was originally done by sailors operating out of New England's coast between 1745 and 1759.

The "Endangered Marine Mammal Species Act" was passed by Congress in 1974 to prevent the extinction of whales in the United States. Legal protections have been put in place to prevent the further decline in whale populations. We commend the United States government's call for international environmental cooperation and support this positive environmental initiative.