A sampling of some of the scrimshaws I was able to create for 2025. I use Chatbooks to create a little “brag book”, and they also have an online version you can share. Aside from and excellent product both digital and physical, their advertising campaign still makes me smile. You can see them on Youtube here.
If you like the idea, Chatbooks is running a promotion that gives you a $15 credit toward your first order. That’s a great way to test out their service! For example, my previous brag book was 30 pages and cost $22 total, so you could get something similar for about $7.
Author: Andrew
Mystery Artist 61 – Navajo Style Bracelet
This is a fascinating piece. Purchased by her father in the early 1990’s, this is a silver bracelet with a rectangular cabochon that appears to be ivory depicting a woman with golden blonde hair which looks to me to be early 20th century style with a bandana or similar. The simple elegant lines hide the fact that there is subtle shading in the cheeks, the blue in the eyes and the hair tie, and the hair coloring.
One letter “O” with a tail jutting off to the top left reminicent of a stem(possibly Cheri?) or perhaps some other meaning – kind of reaching on that thought. The only other marking is that of what I’m thinking is a Phoenix on the bracelet’s cuff.
The owner is curious about the history of the artist and would like to know more about who made this memorable and cherished bracelet.
Anyone familiar with the artist? Please let us know in the comments below!
Scrimshaw in France on Magnificent Knives
Once in awhile on a Sunday I’ll do a search for scrimshaw or some variation of it. This morning I was thinking of trade scrimshaw. While making breakfast and avoiding technology (and putting off shoveling the snow from the driveway), I tried to describe trade scrimshaw as I would to someone unfamiliar with the term and came up with this: “Trade scrimshaw captures a subject with an efficient use of lines, stipples, shading and detail, creating a pleasing and memorable piece of art while minimizing the impact on the recipient’s wallet and the artist’s hours left on earth.” There are less cheeky definitions out on the web, but this one fits me like my comfortable wool flannel shirt and well worn dog-walking shoes.
It was while I was comparing my thoughts on trade scrimshaw with what was out on the web that I ran across https://www.fontenille-pataud.com/en/recherche?s=scrimshaw. The knives themselves are useful works of art – another fascination of mine. Art comes in a variety of forms: many are to be observed, studied, thought about and argued over but not touched – never touched. Useful works of art is probably not the best description of what I’m fascinated with, but “practical art” doesn’t fit either. Oh well.
The knives created by Fontenille-Petaud are truly beautiful from their choice of metal and finish to the selection of scales and filework, along with the mechanisms themselves. It is a pleasure to see such artistry and craftsmanship twenty five years into the 21st century.
Mystery Artist 58 – GAM
This mystery artist has the initials GAM which are on each of a series of five scrimshaws on a sterling silver bracelet. The work was more than likely done in the late 70’s to early 80’s. This particular item was done in full color, which I’ve not seen very often, and was well taken care of – the colors are still vivid. Most times they were done with black ink only.
“Story bracelets” as they are known were quite popular, Al Doucette, a modern scrimshaw artist making quite a number of them during the 1970’s through into this century. The stories vary from the sorrowful goodbye and happy return to life on the shores and on the ship, “made for their beloved during their idle times at sea”, or so the story goes. Whaling was a rough life with little to show for it unless you were the captain or the owner of the vessel, and many scrimshaws of practical use were made to enhance the salaries of the sailors.
With the renewed interest of scrimshaw starting in the early nineteen sixties (President John F. Kennedy was an avid collector of scrimshaw), these bracelets became popular since they were easily worn and carried – much easier than lugging a whale’s tooth in one’s purse. I’m not sure if there are any that were made before that time.
And here we are in the twenty first century, mementos of distant and recent ages being passed down often with scant memories of their parents or grand parents stories of when they had gotten their treasured items, often dates and general locations are remembered, and little known of the artists whose practiced hands wrought the pictures and jewelry.
The “Mystery Artist” blogs as well as some other sites (such as Jim Steven’s site) hope to add the names and histories of the artists. Can you help? Any information about the artist “GAM” would be appreciated, and will add to the stories of the scrimshaws themselves that are treasured to this day. Please feel free to contact us through this site with any information you may have.
Mystery Artist #7 on scrimshaw.com
On the heels of being contacted by a former Mystery Artist
(see Philip Hayde), we have another Mystery Artist! This fine piece was brought to our attention from Michael, who would love to know the artist who signed the work “MUL” or “HUL” – though it could be other initials as well. It is either whale or elephant ivory, and has been expertly crafted onto a mahogany piece. We’re contacting the owner to see if the setting is just decorative or if it is a functional piece as well. The scrimshaw artist shows good detail, using mostly a line technique, and we really enjoy the contrast between the whale above and below the water, with the waves obscuring some of the color. Anyone knowing the artist may contact us at [email protected].
