Tag: whale tooth

Mystery Artist 32 – “B” Whale

Mystery Artist 32 – “B” Whale

Base of scrimshaw - mystery artist 32Looking up and into the center of the tusk/tooth - Mystery Artist 32Close-up of the initial "B" - Mystery Artist 32Severiano from Ohio writes: “I have had this for many years. Do you know who this artist is that signs with the letter “B” ?”

Whale on ivory just under the water

Not sure if this is a tusk tip or a whale tooth, hope to get a picture of the base.  My teacher Eduardo Brum would often sign his work with a single letter B as well, though it doesn’t give us much to go on. Purchased from an antique shop on Galveston Island Texas.

Mystery Artist 26 – Whale Tooth: Authentic or Repro?  Verdict: “Fakeshaw”

Mystery Artist 26 – Whale Tooth: Authentic or Repro? Verdict: “Fakeshaw”

Mystery Artist 26-1 Whale Toothe with crossed pistolsMystery Artist # 26 is a scrimshaw on a whale tooth, either real or a very good reproduction.  From the owner: “Hello, not sure what I have here, as it is somewhat similar to the Turnage Place Mississippi repros. Anyone’s help is much appreciated, thanks Kelvin.”

Mystery Artist 26-2 Whale Tooth with stagecoach

Mystery Artist 26-3 - Bottom edge

Mystery Artist 26-4 - Tip of the tooth

Mystery Artist 26-5 - Base of the tooth

One thing I’ve noticed is the uniformity of the color beneath.  There is also no grain in the bottom, which makes me think that it could be a polymer.  Two quick tests would be looking at it under a “black light”: if it glows, it’s definitely plastic. if not, it could still be a different polymer.  The second test would be the “hot pin test”: heating a needle to red hot and pressing the point into the base to see if it melts or burns, taking note of the smell.  If it smells like plastic, it is.  If it smells like a dentist’s office after a day of drilling, it’s more than likely ivory.

Anyone know the artist or the authenticity of this item?  Let us know in the comments.

Douglass Moody, a longtime scrimshaw collector responded below, reprinting his response here:
“This is a well-documented, mass-produced resin replica of a scrimshawed whale tooth, colloquially known as Fakeshaw. It is NOT a reproduction, because an authentic original never existed.”

Thank you, Douglass!