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Scrimshaw is the decoration of bone or ivory objects, such as whale's
teeth and walrus tusks, with fanciful designs. Anglo-American and
Native American whale fishermen traditionally carved it with
jackknives or sail needles and emphasized with black pigments such as
lampblack. A person practicing this art is known as a scrimshander.
Among the traditional subjects are whaling scenes, ships, naval
battles, flower bouquets, Masonic emblems, coats of arms, and the
Irish harp. The earliest surviving examples date from the late 17th
century, but the craft reached its peak during the period 1830–50. Presented by Mrs R C Wright.
(SACHM77/206)
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