Unique and Rare Antique and Collectible Scrimshaw Items

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Unique and Rare Antique and
Collectible Scrimshaw Items

FIND SCRIMSHAWS FOR SALE

Scrimshaw pieces make up what is one of the busiest categories on Mega Ministore. Our listings are comprised of both bone and tooth scrimshaw; some are pure art pieces and some are practical (for example, our knives with scrimshaw handles and the scrimshaw jewelry). Antique scrimshaw as well as modern works by Native Americans are listed here.

As an antique, scrimshaw only goes back to the early 1800s, when whalers would use any carving implement they could find on ship and carve scenes of varying cleverness into pieces of bone, tooth or tusk. The carved lines would then be enhanced with coloring, sometimes candle ash, tobacco juice, or a commercial pigment.

More on MegaMinistore: Antique and rare boat anchors

The scrimshaw industry these days is informed almost entirely by various national and international laws relating to hunting and whaling. In the early days, antique scrimshaw was made from the teeth and bones of sperm whales, which were abundant and hunted en masse. Ivory from African elephants has also been widely used for scrimshaw art.

Antique scrimshaw is legal to buy and sell, and is defined as any piece crafted from ivory-bearing creatures (i.e., walrus and sperm whales) before 1973. (An exception is elephant ivory, which has a legal limit of 1988 or before). Furthermore, legal restrictions are lifted for modern (non-antique) scrimshaw crafted by native Alaskan Eskimo artisans. This last category contains some big names and often accounts for some of the higher-priced items in our listings.

Browse 460 current Scrimshaws for sale offers here

The durability of real antique scrimshaw is, due to the porous nature of teeth and especially bone, an eternal problem for collectors. Dryness can rob a collection of a beautiful piece, and many serious collectors learn to introduce oil into the object and wait for it to seep into the pores. An unobtrusive wax coating added afterwards can greatly increase the life span of a piece of antique scrimshaw.

Although carved scrimshaw is more popular for collectors, there is also a type of scrimshaw created by sculpture. Some pieces combine a sculpted shape with carvings, and recently artists have even been experimenting with multiple colors rather than the traditional dark or black coloring.

See also: Antique Sextant: Highly Coveted Nautical Artifacts

Scrimshaw art is popular because it is so related to the sea – or, more to the point, to man’s interaction with the sea. Whaling was a monumentally difficult and dangerous pursuit, and a piece of bone or ivory was a hard-won possession for a proud hunter. Commercial whaling may be outlawed now, but the process of carving an intricate, beautiful scene directly on the surface of something that so strongly represents the great ocean is such a basic outpouring of human creativity that the lure of antique scrimshaw and modern scrimshaw art will remain particularly strong for many years. 

Scrimshaws for sale

Currently showing our top 454 offers from eBay, and our top 6 offers from Amazon sellers. Click for shipping details and money-back guarantee info. Scrimshaws listings are chosen using MegaMinistore's original custom technology. We show you only the latest and best sales from safe, trusted sellers. Sales are updated and refreshed every day.

When you click a link to a merchant and make a purchase, it can result in this website earning a commission. Affiliations include, but are not limited to, eBay Partner Network. 

Showing 1 - 10 of 460

Schooner Bay Co. Whale and Ship Vintage Scrimshaw Bone Box Antique Vintage Style Nautical Ship Sailing Boat 6-1/4” Hinged Lid for Jewelry Trinket

Seller: Schooner Bay Co. ★★★★★★★★★★ 94% (22 ratings)
Location: United States

$27.75

In Stock

Reproduction Scrimshaw Resin Whale Tooth,​ Sailing Ship & Female Patriot

Seller: art100global ★★★★★★★★★★ 80% (20 ratings)
Location: China

35% OFF
$615.00
$399.75 or best offer

Limited-time deal. Buy It Now Price

TG,​LLC Treasure Gurus Fake Reproduction Etched Scrimshaw Bone Art Whaling Ship Jewelry Box Whale Chest

Seller: TreasureGurus - where No One is hard2shop4 ★★★★★★★★★★ 95.6% (282 ratings)
Location: United States

SUPERSAVER  ·  PRIME

$33.98

Temporarily out of stock. We are working hard to be back in stock. Place your order and we’ll email you when we have an estimated delivery date. You won’t be charged until the item ships

Resin Whales Tooth,​ Ship Susan Voyager Trade Ship Reproduction Scrimshaw

Seller: art100global ★★★★★★★★★★ 80% (20 ratings)
Location: China

35% OFF
$596.00
$387.40 or best offer

Limited-time deal. Buy It Now Price

Whale and Ship Vintage Scrimshaw Bone Box Antique Vintage Style Nautical Whaling Sailing Boat 6-1/4” Hinged Lid for Jewelry Trinket

Seller: Schooner Bay Co. ★★★★★★★★★★ 94% (22 ratings)
Location: United States

$27.75

In Stock

Rare 1970s Scrimshaw Carved Round Pendant Bird On Flower Petals Art Decor 1

Seller: coastaldeal ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.4% (2,160 ratings)
Location: United States

30% OFF
$128.80
$90.16 or best offer

Limited-time deal. Buy It Now Price

TG,​LLC Treasure Gurus Fake Reproduction Scrimshaw Art Bone Mermaid Nautical Jewelry Box Treasure Chest

Seller: TreasureGurus - where No One is hard2shop4 ★★★★★★★★★★ 95.6% (282 ratings)
Location: United States

SUPERSAVER  ·  PRIME

$34.29

In Stock

PADO ROMEO 925 STERLING SILVER NECKLACE 20" PAINTED SCRIMSHAW BIRDS FLORAL 1305

Seller: flandy2020 ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.5% (2,897 ratings)
Location: United States

30% OFF
$121.00
$84.70 or best offer

Limited-time deal. Buy It Now Price

Schooner Bay Co. Ship's Anchor in Circle Black Engraved Vintage Scrimshaw Ox Bone Jewelry Box Antique Reproduction,​ 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 x 2

Seller: Schooner Bay Co. ★★★★★★★★★★ 94% (22 ratings)
Location: United States

$29.95

In Stock

sterling silver vintage scrimshaw unicorn pendant

Seller: blushedjewelry ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.8% (11,118 ratings)
Location: United States

20% OFF
$100.00
$80.00 or best offer

Limited-time deal. Buy It Now Price

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