Scrimshaw is scrollwork, engravings, and carvings done in bone or ivory. Typically it refers to the artwork created by whalers, engraved on the byproducts of whales, such as bones or cartilage.

Scrimshaw is still practiced by whalers such as the Chukchi of Siberia and the Eskimos of Siberia and Alaska. This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.

May 1, 2025 · Scrimshaw is an American folk art form in which designs are etched into ivory or bone, then colored with ink. Although you can't legally use whale ivory, it's still possible for you to practice …

Learn about scrimshaw, the most well-known whaler’s art. Look at the most famous of all whaling literature, Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. These days, “scrimshaw” is taken to refer to all kinds of …

Feb 10, 2024 · Scrimshaw is an extraordinary art form that emerged from the maritime world, etching its legacy into the bones and teeth of whales. Originating during the late 18th century, it was the …

It is defined in the 19th century book “ On Many Seas: the Life and Exploits of a Yankee Sailor ” as “ A scrimshaw is any fancy article made by sailors in their liesure hours; engraved whales teeth, baskets, …

Jul 4, 2025 · From boredom was born the scrimshander. He is the artist who carves scrimshaw: images etched into pieces of bone, antler, or the like. This tradition, which may have early prehistoric origins, …

What does the word "scrimshaw" mean? Scrimshaw is a word caught up in controversy. Many say it comes from an old English nautical slang expression meaning "to waste time." But others have …

Scrimshaw—whale teeth, whale bone, and animal tusks carved with intricate designs and pictures—is a truly American art form. It likely originated among Native American cultures, and was developed and …

Jan 29, 2025 · Scrimshaw, a uniquely American art form, is the name given to intricate carvings and engravings made on whalebone, walrus ivory, or other marine mammal materials.