The information posted on this site, is for viewing only. I do not accept custom orders and will not be accepting them in the near furture. Please feel free to browse through the site. I hope that my work might prove an inspiration for your work.
SCRIMSHAW 
EXPRESSING YOUR HERITAGE THROUGH SCRIMSHAW
A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO SCRIMSHAW
Scrimshaw, the painstaking etching on ivory or bone, is one of the very few indigenous American crafts. Practiced for centuries by the Inuit and other native groups along the Northwest Coast, it was adopted by the Yankee whalesmen of the early 1800's. Two to five year voyages quickly became monotonous, so the whalesmen turned to working whale teeth and jawbones, all in abundant supply. Common subjects included whaling scenes, women, and scenes copied from magazines of the day.
Scrimshaw is a term applied to carved or pierced bone or ivory. Today scrimshanders use a variety of natural and man-made material. The natural ivory used today varies from beef bone, deer bone or antler to mastodon ivory. Because of international restrictions, the use of natural ivory is declining. In it's place are the man-made materials such as Corian®, plexiglass, and micarta.
While patterns were traditionally carved using India Ink, today scrimshaw patterns can be done in a variety of colours using different materials.
Scrimshaw done on most man-made materials requires very little care. The micarta's all tend to yellow with age - giving the work a very rich patina. The scrimshaw art work has be fixed so it does not fade under normal wear. Scrimshaw done on natural material requires some care. It must be handled like fine jewellry.
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Wolf Necklace According to Pawnee creation legend the Wolf star is in the southern sky. This star is called "Fools The Wolves" because it rises just before the morning star and tricks the wolves into howling before first light. This necklace shows the howling wolf.
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The pendant is scrimshawed on mastodon ivory. Mastodon's or wooly mammoth were cold climate animals with long hair and plenty of thick underfur to keep them warm. They became extinct in the latter stages of the Ice Age. Many mammoths lived and perished in the frozen reaches of the Canadian Arctic. Incredibly, their frozen carcasses have been perfectly preserved and have been of significant use to scientists and archeologists. It is still possible to find mastodon bone inside the Arctic Circle.
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An Inuksuk is an Inuit marker. The Inuksuk is a tower, mound, or pile of stones, usually found in arctic parts. The Inuksuk serves as both a marker for important sites and as a signpost on a trail through the wastelands. |
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West Coast Haida The Haida of Canada's West Coast have a very distinctive and stylized manner of work. This is a variation of one of their Gods.
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Camera Bolo Tie A present of a Camera Bolo Tie was given to a photographer friend. The camera scrimshawed on the bolo is the exact model that the photographer uses. The camera of choice was a Pentax 4x5 with auto wind. After scouring photography shops and magazines, a good likeness was found and a detailed sketch was made of the camera complete with F stops, other lens markings and the Pentax name.
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Personalized ULU
I am often asked to personalize a piece. This handle of an Ulu had the owner's name scrimshawed in it. The Ulu was a 40th birthday present and had been special ordered for the occasion. |
Recently, I have begun customizing wooden boxes to put my scrimshaw necklaces in. The boxes are made from a variety of exotic woods. Here are a few examples of my latest boxes.
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SCRIMSHAW BEAR The bear is scrimshawed on bone with India ink. It has a sterling silver chain and comes in a Camatillo wood box. This bear was custom made for a client. He wished to have a very large piece done and wanted a bear in full attack mode. The artwork for the bear is original and was a composite of a variety of pictures. |
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SCRIMSHAW GYRFALCON The gryfalcon is scrimshawed on bone with India ink. It has a sterling silver chain and comes in a Walnut wood box. |
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SCRIMSHAW HAIDA The Haida is scrimshawed on bone with India ink. It has a sterling silver chain and comes in a Chakte Kok wood box. Haida artwork provides an excellent source of scrimshaw. It's very clean and sharp lines can be easily represented in scrimshaw. |
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SCRIMSHAW MASTODON The mastodon is scrimshawed on Mastodon Ivory with India ink. It has a sterling silver chain and comes in a Olive wood box. |
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SCRIMSHAW MERMAID The mermaid is scrimshawed on bone with India ink. It has a sterling silver chain and comes in an apple wood box. This mermaid is a statue that sits at the mouth of a Harbour in Sweden. |
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This lockback knife was presented to a young man upon his graduation from Community College. It had his school's motto on the back and a trout on the front.
The blade, handle and folder material are made of Stainless Steel and the insert is bone with the inscription in India ink. The trout is done with artist oil paint.
With more and more people searching for their ethnic roots, a scrimshaw necklace can be a visible acknowledgement of your culture and heritage. Below are some examples of different cultures expressed in bone.
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The Canadian East Coast was settled by the Celts. More and more people are reaching back for their heritage. Celtic symbols and intricate Celtic knotwork can be displayed on a variety of materials. Bone and Mastodon Ivory are my preferred medium. The range of Celtic symbols is extensive and the knots can be as simple or detailed as desired. These knots come with their own presentation boxes. |
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Shown here are some of the many intricate and beautiful celtic knots that can be scrimshawed. The pendants were scrimshawed on Mastodon Ivory with sterling silver chain |
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I am the unquenchable Fire, The centre of all energy, The stout heroic heart. I am Truth and Light, I hold power and glory in my sway. My presence Disperses dark clouds To tame the Fates. |
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I AM THE DRAGON. Dragons are born under the sign of luck. In China, the dragon is the national emblem and considered the harbinger of four great blessings - long life, virtue, harmony, and wealth. Giving a Chinese child a luck dragon pendant is a harbinger of good luck for the child. |
