Search 0
27,749  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 68 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
68 ITEMS ADDED TODAY
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA801157
SOLD
Email Phone
Save
Large Whale Tooth Scrimshaw, Dated 1891, Whaling Scene
Sold by Curious Antiques
sold SA801157
Sorry, but this item has been sold.

Curious Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jun 2015
Browse dealers 139 items
↓ Relevant Links
Id #SA801157
PDF SHARE
SAVE

Large Whale Tooth Scrimshaw, Dated 1891, Whaling Scene

19th century
Sold 24 February 2025 · Curious Antiques
This “Large Whale Tooth Scrimshaw, Dated 1891, Whaling Scene” found a buyer.

It was listed by Curious Antiques. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.

Find more for sale
Antique ScrimshawBone ScrimshawNautical Folk Art Ask the dealer for something similar
Description

Large (0.26kg) 19th century Whale tooth scrimshaw, dated 1891. This is a nice example decorated to one side with a picture of a 3 masted Whaling ship .It is inscribed 'Mary' (presumably the name of the ship or the name of a loved one?) and is dated 1891. It has nice colour/patina and overall condition is good in line with age and use. Please refer to the detailed photographs and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to view the item.

Price includes FREE UK delivery.

Size: 14cm long x 5cm wide x 3.5cm deep, weight 0.26kg.

Date of Manufacture

Curious Antiques has dated this Scrimshaw Whale Tooth to the 19th Century.

Physical Dimensions
Height
14cm (5.51")
Width
5cm (1.97")
Depth
3.5cm (1.38")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA801157
Dealers Notes

Curious Antiques specialises in sourcing fine, rare and unusual antiques and curiosities. We are passionate about customer satisfaction and will do all we can to ensure you are happy and in the unlikely event you are not offer a no questions asked returns policy. We accept payment via paypal, bank transfer, cheque and cash.

Description
Large (0.26kg) 19th century Whale tooth scrimshaw, dated 1891. This is a nice example decorated to one side with a picture of a 3 masted Whaling ship .
“
It is inscribed 'Mary' (presumably the name of the ship or the name of a loved one?) and is dated 1891.
Curious Antiques

It has nice colour/patina and overall condition is good in line with age and use. Please refer to the detailed photographs and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to view the item.

Price includes FREE UK delivery.

Size: 14cm long x 5cm wide x 3.5cm deep, weight 0.26kg.

Date of Manufacture

Curious Antiques has dated this Scrimshaw Whale Tooth to the 19th Century.

Height
14cm (5.51")
Width
5cm (1.97")
Depth
3.5cm (1.38")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA801157
Curious Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Jun 2015
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Curious Antiques Profile Page

PDF SHARE
SAVE
An off-white curved whale tooth featuring an engraved black line-art depiction of a sailing ship with the text MARY 12. F - 1891. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO
1 / 7
Archive I An off-white curved whale tooth featuring an engraved black line-art depiction of a sailing ship with the text MARY 12. F - 1891. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO

Large Whale Tooth Scrimshaw, Dated 1891, Whaling Scene

Archive II An off-white curved whale tooth featuring an engraved black line-art depiction of a sailing ship with the text MARY 12. F - 1891. View II
Archive III An off-white curved whale tooth featuring an engraved black line-art depiction of a sailing ship with the text MARY 12. F - 1891. View III
Archive IV An off-white curved whale tooth featuring an engraved black line-art depiction of a sailing ship with the text MARY 12. F - 1891. View IV
Archive V An off-white curved whale tooth featuring an engraved black line-art depiction of a sailing ship with the text MARY 12. F - 1891. View V
Archive VI An off-white curved whale tooth featuring an engraved black line-art depiction of a sailing ship with the text MARY 12. F - 1891. View VI
Archive VII An off-white curved whale tooth featuring an engraved black line-art depiction of a sailing ship with the text MARY 12. F - 1891. View VII
Enlarged Archival View

Curious Antiques
Telephone 07795 237 189
Location
Curious Antiques
Timeline Antiques Centre
Midland Road
North Walsham
Norfolk
NR28 9JR
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/curious
Verified Since Jun 2015
Items For Sale 139
Items Sold 374
Curious Antiques
Verified Since Jun 2015
View Dealer Info
Location: Curious Antiques, Timeline Antiques Centre, Midland Road, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9JR, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/curious
Verified
Jun 2015
For Sale
139
Sold
374
An off-white curved whale tooth featuring an engraved black line-art depiction of a sailing ship with the text MARY 12. F - 1891.
Large Whale Tooth Scrimshaw, Dated 1891, Whaling Scene
Ref: SA801157
An off-white curved whale tooth featuring an engraved black line-art depiction of a sailing ship with the text MARY 12. F - 1891.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDecorative Objects
  • Period19th century
  • StyleMaritime Folk Art
  • MaterialSperm Whale Tooth, Pigment
  • ColourOff-White
  • MotifsSailing ship, Whale fluke, Inscribed lettering
  • SizeH 14 cm (6 in) x W 5 cm (2 in) x D 3.5 cm (1 in)

FAQs

Scrimshaw is the traditional folk art created by whalers, predominantly during the 18th and 19th centuries, who engraved and carved designs into whale teeth, baleen, and bone during long voyages at sea.

Traditional scrimshaw was crafted primarily from the teeth of sperm whales, as well as whalebone and walrus ivory, using basic tools like sail needles, pocket knives, and small chisels.

Authentic antique scrimshaw typically exhibits natural yellowing, appropriate weight and density, genuine wear consistent with age, and microscopic cracking or shrinkage lines under magnification, unlike modern resin or plastic replicas.

Antique scrimshaw works effectively as a curiosity display piece on a bookshelf, within a glass cabinet, or styled on a desk alongside other maritime elements and traditional objects of virtue.

Preserve scrimshaw by keeping it away from direct sunlight, maintaining stable relative humidity to prevent cracking, and occasionally applying a microcrystalline wax to protect the surface.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories