A treasury of American scrimshaw

by McManus, Michael

It has been estimated that about 200,000 whalers from New England and New York created scrimshaw. Although these scrimshanders were not artists per se, their work - as can readily be seen and appreciated in the wonderful color plates for this book that are reproduced from the collections of four great American whaling museums - has a compelling beauty that captures one's interest through its display of craftsmanship. This pastime, which is distinctive to American whaling, produced many fascinating objects from the strictly utilitarian to the fully decorative, and they have been organized here in six main sections: For Use on Board, For Use at Home, Made to Be Seen, Known and Supposed Makers, Ornamentation, and Not What It Seems. They comprise an enduring and invaluable legacy of American folk art and history.