“Proud Wolf Family” color scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by David Adams. Proud mamma and poppa wolf and their new offspring. Male wolf looks like he just did something fanastic, while the mamma wolf has a look of relief. The cubs are looking to get into trouble. Great composition by master scrimshander, Adams. This is done on a full ancient walrus tusk and is from one of our clients who is no longer with us.
“Barn Owl Watching” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory slab by David Smith. Alert barn owl scouring a field looking for a meal. Nice touch with the barbed wire. Note how the light on the fence post comes from the left. Small details like this set Smith’s work apart. The barn owl is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds. Done on a very large slab of walrus ivory, this is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us.
“Sea Otters and Elk” color scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Matt Stothart. Veteran scrimshander, Stothart, has always been a top artist. This has a “day at the beach” feel to it. Family of sea otters, including adorable baby on mom’ stomach, are happily devouring sea urchins near the shore when a pair of elk appear, unaware of the family picnic. Stothart has done a masterful job on this artifact. Ivory was used as an ice axe hundreds of years ago in the Northern Bering Sea area. From the collection on. one of our clients who. is no longer with us.
“Snow Leopard” color scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Orana Tahl. Stunning work by well known Hawaiian scrimshander, Orana. This was done in 1983 and is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us. Walrus tusk was used as an ice axe hundreds of years ago. She was quite well known for her impressive wildlife scrimshaw and Native American portraits. This is mounted on a large stand complete with brass name plaque. It is quite rare to see any of her work on the market today as most collectors are loath to part with their prized pieces. Excellent opportunity to add a very rare piece, (done forty years ago) at 1983 prices!
“Disaster at Portland Head” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Gerry Dupont. Rare artifact used as net sinker hundreds of years ago in the Northern Bering Sea area and is in excellent condition. Award winning scrimshander, Dupont, has described the scene on the back side of the artifact: “St. John’s New Brunswick bark Annie C. Mcguire, driven. onto the rocks at Portland Head Light, Maine by a fierce Noe’easter on Dec. 24th 1886. The crew was saved but the ship could not be salvaged.”
Heck of a way to spend Christmas eve. This was created by Dupont in 2007 and is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us. Excellent opportunity to add a first rate Dupont on a rare artifact to one’s collection at 2007 prices.
“The WANDERER in New Bedford Harbor” black and white scrimshaw on large ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by James W. Lee. Heavy ice axe (1lb 8.5 oz) perfect for this panoramic view of the busy New Bedford Harbor in the heyday of the whaling era. Scrimshander Lee captures the essence of the harbor by showing the masts of countless other whalers. The detail on Wanderer is incredible. See the stern with the name and home port. Nicely done. Note the shed at the left with missing shingle on the roof. Great work on a substantial artifact. From the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us. A keeper.
“Nantucket Sleigh Ride” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by Salman Rashidi. One of the most dangerous parts of whaling. The whaleboat would often be overturned in rough seas, throwing all into the rough water. Perfect piece of ivory for this scene by the late Rashidi. This rare artifact was probably used as an ice tester or harpoon point hundreds of years ago in the Northern Bering Sea area. Almost all of this type of artifact has been discovered over the past half century. From the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us. Rare to see a Rashidi of this caliber on the market today.
“Ship Milton of New Bedford” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by Gerry Dupont. Walrus tusk had just enough surface to work. Back side is all from the center. Dupont took advantage of the surface and created yet another first rate work of art. Depicted is Frank Lewis, an experienced whaleman, and longshoremen storing casks of oil awaiting a favorable market. Sounds like today’s stock market. From the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us.
“Whalers at New Bedford Wharf” black and white scdrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Gerry Dupont. Outstanding work created in 2006 by Dupont. Depiction of New Bedford in its heyday. Love the detail from the eagle on the stern to the bounty of whale oil barrels. Interesting artifact used as fire starter (see indentation on left side) but, even more interesting, is the geometric design scratched on the back of the tusk. Quite rare. This is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us. Excellent opportunity to add a first rate Dupont to one’s collection at 2006 price.
“Loading Whale Oil Barrel ” black and white scrimshaw on large slab of ancient walrus tusk ivory by Gerry Dupont. Workers strain to load a heavy barrel of whale oil. Extremely well done piece by Dupont that was created in 2009 and is from the extensive collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us. You can make out the lettering on the top of the barrel. Great touch with the gear scattered along the dock and the sails in the background. Very large linear cut slab of walrus tusk mounted on a handsome stand complete the picture. This one has it all.