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.

Antique Sextant: Highly Coveted Nautical Artifacts

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.

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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.

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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 favorite 525 offers from eBay. 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 offers from safe, trusted sellers. Sales are updated and refreshed every day.

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Showing 371 - 380 of 525

Sea Turtle Scrimshaw Bone Trinket or Jewelry Box Antique Reproduction Engraved

Seller: schoonerbay1 ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (960 ratings)
Location: United States

$27.95

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Asian simple floral heishi scrimshaw art filagree silver panel link bracelet

Seller: vintagevespers ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (33 ratings)
Location: United States

$75.00 or best offer

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Handmade Woven Nantucket Basket Cuff Bracelet Whale Scrimshaw- Cape Cod Artist!

Seller: juand_405335 ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (87 ratings)
Location: United States

$110.00 or best offer

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Smith and Wesson Baby SWAT Deer Scrimshaw Pocket Knife RARE NOS

Seller: getagripandmorenj ★★★★★★★★★★ 98.1% (3,805 ratings)
Location: United States

$244.11 or best offer

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Mermaid Engraved Vintage Scrimshaw Bone Postage Stamp Box w Brass Hinges & Clasp

Seller: gettysburghistorycenter ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.9% (3,641 ratings)
Location: United States

$29.95

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Vtg Handmade American Art Large Turquoise Nugget Shell Heishi Scrimshaw Necklace

Seller: lucy*pucy ★★★★★★★★★★ 98.7% (3,907 ratings)
Location: United States

$179.00 or best offer

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case knife knives for sale

Seller: bldar3354.b2vyd7lyw ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.7% (1,138 ratings)
Location: United States

$225.00 or best offer

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2 Scrimshaw Like Pocketknives

Seller: kera7531 ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (881 ratings)
Location: United States

$30.00 or best offer

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K. McClelland Scrimshaw Resin Vintage Sun Moon Star Set of 3 Pins Brooch Signed

Seller: myezvintage ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.1% (128 ratings)
Location: United States

$148.00

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GERBER FS-II Eagle /Mountain Scrimshaw Holding Knife Unused Vintage

Seller: shopping-jp ★★★★★★★★★★ 98.8% (151 ratings)
Location: Japan

$258.00 or best offer

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