Scrimshaw

From the Deejt Art Museum Exhibition: Scrimshaw and Art at Sea

Scrimshaw and Art at Sea invites you to join the sailors who turned the oceans into their canvases and inspiration for art. Stuck aboard ships for long voyages, whalers created scrimshaw from the bones and teeth of the very whales that formed their livelihoods. They used their art to tell stories of survival, longing, and adventure and revealed a foreign life to those left on land.
This exhibition showcases the delicate craftsmanship of scrimshaw and explores the broader world of maritime art where the beauty and peril of the sea are immortalized in wood, metal, and bone. From ordinary tools turned into masterpieces to personal tokens of love and superstition, you will experience how the sea has shaped creativity in unexpected and enduring ways.

Origins of Scrimshaw

Timeline

Earliest records of scrimshaw discovered

503 EDK

882 EDK

Earliest record of dragon lords commissioning scrimshanders for dragon bone scrimshaw

First mention of scrimshaw needles

886 EDK

1024 EDK

Creation of the Muloes Scrimshaw Association to preserve the art form and protect scrimshanders from unscrupulous buyers

Creation of the Selene Scrimshaw Guild in Kabat, intended to unify regional styles and protect techniques

1037 EDK

15 IA

A large influx of dragon bone in the market causes a surge in dragon bone scrimshaw

Introduction of ivory and horn in scrimshaw leading to pushback from traditional artisans

178 IA

419 IA

Publication of the Sailor's Log of Ruulmas popularizes whaling and scrimshaw

Creation of the Kealriv Scrimshaw Brokers Alliance, meant to unify the training and quality of brokers and expand foreign sales

423 IA

455 IA

Muloes Scrimshaw Association adds certification for "Master Scrimshander" status, formalizing the highest ranks for artisans

Sailor's Craft: Tools and Techniques

Bones and Teeth

Needles and Ink

Stippling and Hatching

Stippling involves poking tiny holes into the bone leaving a small mark. It's a drawing technique that's used to show degrees of shading based on how close or far apart the dots are to one another. It's common in engraving and can create extremely detailed pieces of art.

Hatching

Love and Longing: Scrimshaw Themes

Love

Life

Luck

Lore

The Business of Scrimshaw

It Starts At Sea

The life of any piece of scrimshaw begins at sea in the hands of a sailor. The artist sources a suitable piece of bone or tooth. It first needs to be coated in beeswax which is then buffed to seal the surface and create a clean workspace. Next, the arist sketching the design with a pencil. It may take several revisions to settle on a final design. Then the scrimshander switches to the scrimshaw needle and carefully pricks and etches the bone to create the outline. The work continues and is influenced by the sway of the ship and skill of the artist to create a one-of-a-kind piece. Once the design is complete, the scrimshander brushes black ink over the entire surface and wipes away the excess to reveal the final image. Another coat of beeswax gives scrimshaw its distinctive shine and protects the entire piece from salt damage.

Bought By Brokers

Back on shore, scrimshaw brokers offer to purchase works that aren't otherwise destined to friends and family. Ordinary wages are often dependent on the final sale price of the oil and meat harvested during the voyage and can take several major cycles for the crew to be paid. The scrimshaw brokers offer a generous price and the promise of immediate coin. Each piece is then graded and catalogued for authentication and to be traced back to the original artist. Most scrimshaw pieces aren't signed, so this authentication process is crucial for keeping records about scrimshanders.

To A Market Near You

Most pieces are then sold at auction, but some are purchased by luxury retailers. Prospective buyers may approach brokers in search of specific pieces, and this tailored experience is often more expensive and takes longer but ensures that pieces depicting a particular subject or from a particular scrimshander can be obtained. Genuine scrimshaw is sold with the certificate of authentication and often includes details about the ship and artist. Retailers are a good option for people looking to obtain small to medium sized works and aren't looking for anything specific.

Exhibition Dates

12 Selene's Month - 44 Tauna's Month

Location

Gallery 105

Curator

Annalies Korhonen

Sponsors

Vonaher Maritime Trust
Marina Kildersohn
Jerger & Sons Whaling Co
Pondri School of Nautical Arts
Sahomar
Ingera Foundation for Cultural Heritage

Scrimshaw has captured the hearts and imagination of many who share a fascination with the sea. This unique art form was originally created with loved ones in mind but has since seen a rise in popularity alongside other forms of nautical art.

In a World of Dragons

Prior to the Third Dragon War, dragon bones and teeth were a commodity exclusive to the Dragon Lords and their families. They periodically commissioned works from scrimshanders. These heirloom pieces were passed down across generations. Many pieces were incorporated into other items such as boxes, dagger hilts, or jewelry. Following the death of the dragons, the bones became much more widespread, and there was a significant increase in dragon bone scrimshaw.

No Ivory?

Scrimshaw refers specifically to art carved on whale bones and teeth. Ivory and horn from land mammals aren't commonly found in northern Kos, and efforts from whalers and the Muloes Scrimshaw Association have ensured that the art form remains unique to the region and profession. The pieces in this case are from bull horns. Note the coloration at the tip of the horn and curvature which isn't present in whale bones. Within the Northern Nautical Confederation, these pieces must be sold under etched horn, though in other parts of Kos and Akea, they're sold as scrimshaw.

Scrimshaw in Other Items

Though commonly associated with intact teeth and bone, many pieces of scrimshaw can be found embedded into knife handles, corkscrews, whistles, or jagging wheels. Hollowed out teeth have also been used to create drinking vessels, and larger tusks can become scabbards. Bone chips don't go to waste and can be turned into pendants or rings.

Where to Buy

The Muloes Scrimshaw Association (MSA) works to connect scrimshanders with interested brokers and buyers. They provide certificates of authenticity for each work and act as a mediator if any issues arise between the artist and buyer. The Kealriv Scrimshaw Brokers Alliance (KABS) is an independent organization for scrimshaw brokers. They offer certificates in authentication and appraisal. Businesses oustide of the NNC can reach out to KABS to be connected with a broker.