“Full Moon Mermaid” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Ray Peters. Framed against a rising full moon, this attractive mermaid is resting upon an unseen rock. Perhaps some unfortunate mariner may see her and choose to investigate. Good luck with that, sailor. Nice artifact with warm color. Great stipple work on this one, by the way.
“Hunting Polar Bear and Cubs” color scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by Karen Reno. Mama bear and cubs all spy something. Probably food related as the polar bear does not have enemies (except man and nature). Reno is best known for her nudes, but she was right up there with the best at wildlife as well. This could easily be mistaken for a Dorning or Adams scrimshaw, it is that good. Very large tusk in perfect scrimshaw condition. Not much of this quality around anymore. Reno, who is no longer working, created this in 2009. It is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us. Won’t see another like this.
“King Salmon for Supper” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Karen Reno. Easy catch for this experienced brown bear. In his world the maxim is “eat or be eaten” and he will eat his fill with the spawning salmon returning. Done on an ancient net sinker 500-1500 years old. At one point the ivory rolled around on the beach grinding away the outer layers which is the reason it is so smooth. Very heavy piece of ivory, by the way. Probably done in the mid 90s, this is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us.
“Woodduck Pair” color scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Charles W. Conner. Fine depiction of a pair of the most handsome ducks in the U.S. This is such a heavily worked piece by Conner, especially the colors of the male’s plumage. Interesting artifact that may have been used as a crude sharpening stone for fishbone needles. This was done 2010 and is from the collection of one of our long time clients who is no longer with us.
“Stunning Sunbathing Mermaid” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Barbara Cullen. Time to catch a few rays on the beach. Stunning brunette mermaid is beautifully depicted by talented scrimshander, Cullen. Done on an ancient ice axe, hundreds of years old, this would be a welcome addition to any scrimshaw collection. It was probably done at least 20-25 years ago and is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us.
“Pride of Lions” color scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Matt Stothart. This gang looks like they are spending a lazy afternoon together, probably after a big meal. Veteran scrimshander, Stothart, has used the natural color of the ivory to match the coloring of the pride. Nice touch. Ivory used as an ice axe by ancient people in the Northern Bering Sea area hundreds and hundreds of years ago. From the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us. Nice stand completes the picture.
“Soaring Majestic Eagles” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by David Smith. Excellent composition by veteran scrimshander, Smith. Note the way the color of the ivory blends into the neck of the eagle. Smith’s stipple work is outstanding. No one does it better. Interesting artifact used as some type of digging or scraping tool hundreds of years ago. The back has been polished and it appears that the piece may have been exposed to some type of fire. Attractive stand completes the picture. This is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us.
“Captain Plots His Course” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by James W. Lee. Ship’s captain plots his course while enjoying his pipe. He may also be dreaming of someone from his past voyages who, in his imagination, appears on the masthead as she was decades past. Not the usual boring masthead carving by a long shot. The ship on the horizon may have been the exact one he captained in the past. Quite a reverie. Interesting ivory used as a sled runner hundreds of years ago. Nicely done. The stipple work here is quite well done. This was created in the mid 1990s and is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us. Great price for work of this caliber.
“Blockade by Old Whaleships” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Gerry Dupont. Fascinating incident which took place during the Civil War. A flotilla of 15 aging whalers were loaded with heavy stones and sailed to the channel entrance of both Charleston and Savannah where they were scuttled in order to block all entrance into the rebel ports. This impressive scrimshaw was done on an ancient walrus tusk used as an ice axe hundreds of years ago. Dupont did a magnificent job of portraying the entire fleet. A plaque describing the scene describes the action. This is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us and was created in the mid 1990s. Great piece, at a great price.
“Women Boarding a Ferry” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Martin Bandy. Two well dressed Victorian women prepare to board a ferry as two young lads pass their time on the stone covered dockside. Others eye the handsome women as the ferryman prepares the boat. One wonders where they are going. Every picture tells a story. Bandy, who passed away years ago, was considered one of the very best scrimshanders of his era. His composition and eye for detail were unmatched. His work seldom becomes available as most collectors covet their pieces are are reticent to part with them. Bandy created this outstanding work in 1978 and it is from the collection of one of our clients who is no longer with us. The stand had been repaired at some time. Rare opportunity to acquire a Bandy work at a bargain price.