Description:
A very fine scrimshaw jagging wheel, in yellowed ivory. Six spoke wheel with square rim indentations, held in the fore paws of a pig, with long curly tail. Curved and chamfered handle, with "Lizzie" etched in fanciful letters.
Diam wheel: 1 5/8"
Label Text:
Because of the extreme length of whaling voyages, usually lasting four years, sailors often chose to occupy their ample leisure time with carving whalebones, baleen, and teeth. These "hard products" left over from the catch would be otherwise discarded as unsellable pieces of the whale. This artistic form, which had little commercial value, is called scrimshaw.
Creating scrimshaw was a long and often very detailed process. First, sperm whale teeth and bones had to be sanded and polished. Then, the artist, known as the scrimshander, carved his design into the tooth. Finally, the carved outline was filled-in with India ink, dye, soot, or tobacco juice. Most scrimshaw objects were created with those back home in mind, intended as gifts for loved ones. Items like the jagging wheel used to make a decorative edge in pastry dough, may have been given to a mother, sister, girlfriend, or wife; the name "Lizzie" can be seen engraved into the handle.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+SK+G.D.2.2 |
