Scrimshaw Set (3 pieces) | ||
| Folk Art1385 of 2611 |  |  |
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Posted 10 years ago
zeteibao
(55 items)
I have this scrimshaw set, and no idea if there's anyother like this! The main piece I've seen many similar but not the full set! Does anyone recognize this? :) Thanksssssss!!!
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stunning!!
zeteibao, it is difficult if not impossible to make an informed decision regarding scrimshaw unless inspected in person. Scrimshaw can be bone or ivory or whales' teeth and, only "antique" ivory or teeth are not protected by the endangered species laws.
Since scrimshaw is folk art produced by sailors who are out to sea for long periods of time --- years --- your items would only be a "set" if signed by the same person or determined by an expert who examined the carving and style.
I suggest that you contact the definitive expert in this field, Paul Madden in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and inquire if there is an expert in your area. His contact information is here:
http://www.paulmaddenantiques.com/info.html
A cursory look at your photos leads one to think they are antique but there are some incredible fakes out there.
Here is Mr. Madden's checklist FAQs:
http://www.paulmaddenantiques.com/faqs.html
Here's the mongraph recommended by Mr. Madden titled "Fakeshaw: A Checklist of Plastic 'Scrimshaw' " compiled and edited by Stuart M. Frank for the Kendall Whaling Museum:
http://www.whalingmuseum.org/sites/default/files/pdf/KWM%20Monorgaph%20Series%20No%201_Fakeshaw.pdf
Also, provenance is very important.
Good luck!
I always tought of this as a set, because I've always seen the 3 pieces together :D I believe it was an offer to my grandfather a long, long time ago. I believe they might be real, they're too heavy to be fakes, but.. who knows? Mr. Madden might.. hehe :D thanks alot for your info, it was just brilliant! I'll try to contact him :D
Let us know what he has to say!
I would say even based on pictures this isn't real scrimshaw. I hand painted it for Artek Co. back in the late 80's & early 90's. Piece work you could do at home to make extra money. Lots of it out there and it does fool people. I still have reject pieces out in my shop today. I give them to people I don't like for Christmas presents.
I guess it wouldn't be as heavy as it easy if it wasn't real, but that's just my educated guess. Anyway, it was given by someone who believed it was real scrimshaw aswell, so.. let's see :D hehe thanks anyway!
"...and, only "antique" ivory or teeth are not protected by the endangered species laws."
Not at all true. Each and every state has it's own laws.
T A
zeteibao, I have three similar pieces,that I inherited from a friend. She purchased them in the early eighties. They are very good fakes, to the degree that they were stored in a bank safe deposit box for many years. They also have very good weight, but so does resin. When I recieved them, I thought they were the real deal. But on closer inspection I began to wonder. I finally removed one of the metal caps, (similar to yours) off the base of one of the teeth and than it was obvious they were plastic. Another test that someone suggested to me ( that I haven't tried) is to heat up a needle red hot and try to push it into the item. If it is resin it will go in and put off a plastic smell. It would be worth having a expert opinion, because the potenial value.
Yes Indeed! :D Btw, how did you remove the metal cap without damaging the piece? :)
Uuh... A little red hot pin poke even if resin will less damage it than removing the silver cap! A very thin needle in a discreet location will say.