Balclutha in Heavy Seas

“Balclutha in Heavy Seas” color scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Chris Lehwalder. Famed ship, Balclutha, is shown in heavy weather with topsails furled. Excellent work by Lehwalder, one of the very berst color nautical scrimshanders ever. Interesting artifact. Not really sure just exactly how it was used, but bears scoring marks on bottom.

• Balclutha is a three-masted, steel-hulled, square-rigged ship built to carry a variety of cargo all over the world.
• Launched in 1886 by the Charles Connell and Company shipyard near Glasgow, Scotland, the ship carried goods around Cape Horn (tip of South America) 17 times.
• It took a crew of about 26 men to handle the ship at sea with her complex rigging and 25 sails.