Sailor in ship's rigging and the Royal Navy insignia
Date19th Century
Object number00003838
NameScrimshaw whale tooth
MediumSperm whale tooth
DimensionsOverall: 35 x 130 x 50 mm, 0.15 kg
ClassificationsDecorative and folk art
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis Sperm whale tooth is engraved with images of a sailor resting on rigging on one side and a crowned fouled anchor (the Royal Navy insignia) on the other. Whaling expeditions lasted for five years an average and the voyage at sea could be boring. Scrimshaw was a time consuming activity that helped sailors pass the hours at sea. Often whalers collected teeth to engrave at a later stage.HistoryScrimshaw was originally a maritime folk art that developed from the unique conditions encountered onboard whaling ships in the early 19th century. No one knows for sure where the term originated, but it comes from the Dutch words 'scrim' meaning to etch and 'shorn' meaning to make. The earliest written reference is in an American ship log dated 20 May 1826. There is also a reference to 'skrim shunder articles' in Herman Melville's Moby Dick in 1851.
Engravings on whale teeth are a common form of scrimshaw art and have become popular with collectors. Teeth were often engraved in fine detail and depict maritime scenes of ships, whale hunts, sailors and sea animals.SignificanceThis tooth demonstrates the frequent depiction of martime scenes on pieces of scrimshaw.
19th century
19th century
19th century
19th century
1860-1870
19th Century
19th century
19th century