“Clipper Flying Cloud” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by David Smith. Donald McKay’s most famous and fastest clipper, the Flying Cloud set records between New York and San Francisco that stood for over a century! Rare artifact used as a spear point hundreds of years ago. Note the shaping at the bottom where it was attached.
“Helmsman in a Storm” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by David Smith. Veteran helmsman weathers another storm. No doubt he will get the ship safely through the raging storm. Rare artifact used as an ice tester to determine the spring ice thickness. There was just enough workable space and Smith took maximum advantage of it. Great composition by one of the best working today.
“Epic Undersea Battle” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Gerry Dupont. Sperm whale and giant squid battle deep in the ocean’s depths. It was not uncommon to discover large sections of flesh torn out of the massive whales by this squid. This is done on a piece of ancient ivory used as a tool hundreds of years ago. Interesting that just enough enamel was left to create a work of art after all of the time it was buried. Great color in the ivory.
“Learning the Ropes” color scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory artifact by Matt Stothart. Excellent depiction of male lion and his two cubs. Not sure who is teaching whom, but it is a charming scene, nevertheless. This is done on an ancient native net sinker and Stothart has used the natural color of the old ivory to maximum effect in the male lion’s coat. Experience always shows. This is mounted on a first class wenge stand inlaid with mammoth ivory and ancient walrus tusk ivory. A keeper.
“Wreck of the Wanderer” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by Gerry Dupont. Veteran scrimshander, Dupont, excels here. Ivory may have been used as a tool or implement hundreds of years ago, judging from the scoring marks at the top of the tusk. Sad ending for a famous vessel. She put to sea on August 25, 1924 for one last whaling voyage; unfortunately, she was caught in a storm and the next morning was on the rocks at Sow and Pigs Reef at Cuttyhunk Island. She was pounded by the surf until her keel broke. By August 28th it was evident that she could not be patched and pulled ashore. Wreckers took over the doomed ship.
“Blue Whale and Brigantine” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk artifact by Gerry Dupont. Ivory used as digging or scraping tool by natives in the Northern Bering Sea area. Excellent composition by Dupont. Amazing how a piece used as a tool hundreds of years ago has found a new life as a work of art.
“Beneath the Surface” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by Ray Peters. Busy underwater scene by veteran scrimshander, Peters. Nice detail throughout, from the coral to the sperm whale cow and calf. Look closely at the string of air bubbles from the cow. Just at the top of the tusk you can discern a series of white rounded bubbles. Except they are in the ivory itself, the center core of the fossil walrus barely peeking through. Really cool the way Peters positioned everything in order to incorporate that into the well composed scene. Mark of a true professional.
“Three Masted Schooner” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by Ray Peters. A school of flying fish escorts this elegant vessel. The small touches distinguish Peters’ work. Nice stand completes the picture. This one really works.
“Bowhead Below” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by Gerry Dupont. Creative composition by award winning scrimshander, Dupont. He has deftly positioned the ship in the darker portion of the the ancient walrus tusk and the bowhead on the lighter bottom one half. Opposites attract. Nice stand completes the picture.
“Giant squid” black and white scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by Ray Peters. The favorite food of sperm whales, giant squids exist in the deepest part of the oceans. Excellent work by Peters. It appears the ivory was shaped as a tool by ancient people hundreds of years ago. The giant squid is a species of deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae. It can grow to a tremendous size, offering an example of deep-sea gigantism: recent estimates put the maximum size at around 12–13 m for females and 10 m for males, from the posterior fins to the tip of the two long tentacles.