Whaling & Scrimshaw
Scrimshaw and whaling artifacts are among the most popular areas of nautical collecting. We carry a variety these items including: harpoons, lances and other items in the whalecraft arena. Scrimshaw includes a whole variety of whale ivory and whalebone articles made by whalemen. All are guaranteed authentic 19th century examples.
A0410 IMPORTANT 18TH CENTURY CARVED BUSK DEPICTING ACTIVE SPERM WHALING SCENE.
An exceptionally important—and quite possibly the earliest known—18th‑century corset busk carved in relief with a vivid representation of sperm whaling. Fashioned from maple and dated 1761, the busk features a finely executed scene that is remarkable both for its subject matter and its early date.
On the left, an 18th‑century sloop is shown under sail, flying a pennant bearing the cross of St. Andrew or St. Patrick. To the right, a whaleboat is depicted in active pursuit, with the harpooner already fast to a sperm whale—an unusually dynamic and detailed portrayal for a busk of this period. Above the scene appears the inscription “AD 1761”, and centered near the top is a decorative chip‑carved fan motif.
The reverse bears a lightly penned ink inscription reading: “Property of Stephen B. Dean.”
Stuart M. Frank, PhD, Senior Curator Emeritus of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, has recorded that he is reasonably certain the piece was crafted by Stephan Dean (1724–1797) of New York, who was employed as a sailor.
Dimensions: 11 ½ inches.
$8250
A0415 FINELY ENGRAVED SCRIMSHAW CORSET BUSK WITH ALLEGORICAL VIGNETTES
The unknown scrimshander who created this corset busk was a true artist, working with a precision and delicacy that elevate the piece far beyond simple ornament. The surface is engraved with a sequence of finely rendered vignettes, each carefully transferred from contemporary printed sources and arranged in a graceful vertical progression.
At the top, twin fountains spill from a large classical urn, flanked by birds perched lightly on its handles. Below this, the figure of Minerva, goddess of war and wisdom, stands before an American flag—an early patriotic motif that continues in the next panel, where Liberty appears draped in classical robes, leaning upon an American shield with supporting eagle and globe. The final vignette depicts Cupid, bow drawn, poised to release an arrow of love.
The imagery is crisp, balanced, and unusually sophisticated for a busk, suggesting a maker with both artistic training.
Excellent condition.
Length: 13 inches.
$2500
A0382 UNUSUAL ID’D SAILOR MADE PANBONE BEVEL GUAGE
A rare and finely crafted solid whalebone gauge designed for marking two fixed degree angles—also identified by some specialists as an early form of bevel gauge. The tool is constructed from two pieces of panbone, expertly shaped and secured with copper pins, reflecting the careful workmanship typical of shipboard whalemen’s craft.
It bears the stamped initials “C. W. M.”, which may correspond to Charles W. Morgan, a sailor from Poughkeepsie, New York. While the attribution cannot be confirmed, the initials align with known individuals active in the maritime trades during the 19th century. Measures 12 ½ inches overall length.
Provenance: Mitler Collection.
Literature: Illustrated in Through the Eyes of a Collector: The Scrimshaw Collection of Thomas Mitler.
$595
SOLD
A0380 SHIPBOARD MADE SCRIMSHAW CARPENTERS MARKING SCRIBE
A finely crafted sliding gauge made aboard ship from sperm whale panbone, fitted with a steel scribe point and secured by a whalebone slide tightened with a thumbscrew. This compact and practical tool—typical of a whaleman’s ingenuity—measures 9 inches in length.
Such gauges were used for scoring precise lines in wood or bone, and examples made entirely at sea from available materials are increasingly scarce.
​
Provenance: Mitler Collection.
Literature: Illustrated in Through the Eyes of a Collector: The Scrimshaw Collection of Thomas Mitler.
$425
SOLD
A0379. SHIPBOARD‑MADE SCRIMSHAW CARPENTERS SQUARE
A finely crafted sailor‑made carpenter’s square fashioned from a thick section of sperm whale panbone, its outer end shaped with a subtle decorative flourish. The bone blade is fitted to a wooden handle, forming a sturdy and functional right angle.
Dimensions: 9 7/8 × 8 5/8 inches.
$275
A0400 WHALECRAFT DOCUMENT: PELEG BUTTS OUTFITS FOR BARK MASSACHUSETTS
Rare signed receipt from Peleg Butts & Son, noted whalecraft makers, detailing the outfitting of the bark Massachusetts.
Dated 1856, the document itemizes an extensive list of whalecraft supplied, including:
Three types of harpoons: double‑flu, single‑flu, and toggle irons, Cutting spades, Blubber hooks, Blubber forks, Along with numerous other essential implements for the whaling voyage
This receipt represents a rare surviving record of mid‑19th century whalecraft provisioning, signed by one of New Bedford’s prominent makers.
$150 SOLD
A0405 WHALECRAFT DOCUMENT: E B & F MACY OUTFITS AND WORK ON SCHOONER HATTIE E. SMITH 1884.
Document details blacksmith work and whalecraft fittings for the schooner Hattie E. Smith.
The Macy brothers Josiah Jr., Edwin and Frederick joined their father Josiah from Nantucket to New Bedford around 1850. They took over the firm in 1857 and 1861 the name was changed to E. B. & F. Macy which continued till 1904.
$120
HOLD
A0412 RARE PAIR OF WHALEBOAT PADDLES
A rare pair of wooden whaleboat paddles, each hand-lettered L Boat on the blades. The blades are fashioned from single pieces of pine, reinforced with a horizontal strip of wood, and riveted securely to their handles. Although clearly made by the same hand for the same vessel, the two paddles did not remain together.
The longer example, measuring 78.5 inches, was deaccessioned from the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, having originally entered that institution from the Valley Forge Historical Society in the 1960s. The shorter paddle, 55.25 inches, came from the collection of Robert Hellman, who acquired it from the Clifford Ashley collection. It was attributed to the whaling bark Sunbeam, on which which Ashley sailed in 1904 and documented with a series of photographs.
At some point, the shorter paddle was cut down; its blade now sits slightly loose and shows greater wear than its companion.
$1400
A0408 RARE WHALING BLUBBER SKIMMER
A fine and rare blubber skimmer, preserved on its original sapling pole.
The basket is fashioned from two pieces of sheet iron, riveted to an iron support at the base, with a long shank terminating in a socket. It is secured by a bolt to the pole. Overall length measures 103 inches, with the iron portion extending 39 inches.
This specialized tool was employed aboard whaling ships to skim scraps of blubber from the oil boiling in the try-pots.
$1850
A0409 EARLY DOUBLE FLU MOUNTED HARPOON
An early, unmarked double‑flue harpoon, possibly 18th century.
This rare example features unusually narrow barbs tapering to a fine shank with split‑seam socket. The iron remains authentically mounted on its pole, bound with hemp serving and rigged with rope of the period. Measuring an impressive 100 inches overall (38 inches for the iron alone), this harpoon represents a scarce survival from the age of sail and whaling.
$1750
A0398 SCRIMSHAW PANBONE BUSK OF QUEEN VICTORIA AND TOM THUMB
General Tom Thumb as P. T. Barnum called him was an international celebrity. In 1844 Barnum took Thumb on a tour to Europe where he was presented to Queen Victoria. This whalebone busk commemorates the event. Made from an unusually thick piece of Sperm Whale panbone with engraved images of Victoria greeting General Tom Thumb who sits in a chair atop a table. Flanked on each side are other Victorian ladies and floral decorations. 14 ¾ inches.
$2500
A0373 SCRIMSHAW TOOTH BY MOSES DENNING DATED 1837
Obverse depicts a naval ship set with full sails flying a huge American flag and a long pennant from the main mast. Four birds, soar in the sky above the ship. The ship is rides upon the water in the form of a fanciful sea serpent. Reverse with a full-length portrait of a young woman wearing an elaborate comb in her hair, a blouse with puffy green sleeves, a long skirt with red cross-hatch design with black and red hem with her tiny feet protruding. In her hands she is holding a purse. Condition as seen with chipping at base and tip. Length 6 5/8.
Moses R. Denning (1806-1884) Was from Poland Maine and is recorded as a crew member aboard the whaleship Nassau on a voyage of 1833-1837. He subsequently became a farmer in Auburn Maine. A signed example is in the collection of the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
$7500
.jpeg){kind=small}
A0384 WHALING COMMON LANCE MOUNTED ON ORIGINAL POLE.
This lance was formerly in the collection of Valley Forge Historical Society and later in the Independence Seaport Museum. It was part of a whalecraft collection believed to have come from the whaling bark WANDERER. The lance appears to have never been used which makes sense if it was retrieved from the wreck. Its in fine condition with just light surface rust and retains most of the socket serving. The pole’s original warp line rigging was missing, replaced by a modified system in which grooves were carved in the pole where the warp line was seized. Because this was not the correct way lances were rigged, we re-rigged it correctly running the warp line through the original hole at the end of the pole and splicing a loop at the end. We used authentic old warp line to rig it. Overall length: 134.25 inches, the iron 65 inches. NOTE: The iron can be detached from the pole to allow shipping.
$1250
An exceptional scrimshaw coconut dipper with serpentine shaped exotic wood handle, terminating with whale ivory acorn finial and walrus ivory connector to the bowl. Bowl has high relief patriotic spread-wing eagle, shield clutching American flags and arrows. 15 inches
​
​
Literature: Richard Bourne Co. The Folk Art & Marine Antiques Collections of Jeffrey & Francine Cohen, July 31, 1989, Lot 20
$1450
SOLD
A0364 19TH CENTURY WHALE IVORY SCRIMSHAW PIE CRIMPER
Made from a single large Sperm whale tooth with delicate open work in the handle and pierced hearts star and crosses in the fan tail. Large solid fluted whale ivory wheel. 7 .75 inches overall. Wheel has slight warping, otherwise fine condition. 1100
$1100
A0358 IMPORTANT SEA BAG BELONGING TO CAPTAIN CHARLES C. MOOERS ON THE BARK KATHLEEN 1860-1864
This sail cloth sea bag belonged to Captain Charles C. Mooers (1818-1891). He was master of the ill fated KATHLEEN which was sunk by a whale in 1902. Mooers commanded the KATHLEEN from 1860-1864.
Hand made of canvas sail cloth with hand whipped grommets securing six lanyard strands and rope-work with a loop at the end. The sea bag is inscribed “Ch C. Mooers Bk Kathleen New Bedford” 31 inches tall.
$1500
SOLD
A0330 PAIR OF SCRIMSHAW POLYCHROME TEETH BY THE THISTLE ENGRAVER C. 1840
The Thistle Engraver, so called, is known for his garlands of thistles surrounding ships and figures. His work is beautifully executed with color. This pair depicts on the obverse, ships titled "Outward Bound" and "Home Bound". The reverse male and female figures in Scottish dress depicted with the national flag of Scotland. The figures may represent Rob Roy MacGregor and his wife Mary.
The teeth measure 5.5 inches. The teeth have old chips on the tip and base.
$4500
A0206 SCRIMSHAW WHALE TOOTH
Though damaged many years ago, this scrimshaw whale tooth is exceptional showing a very active whaling scenes on both sides. A full rigged ship is shown with whaleboats pursuing Sperm whales near an island with active volcano and fort with lighthouse.
The opposite side is a flurry of whaling activity: Boats being upturned as the whales take their revenge.
Though damaged as seen, the tooth is stable. Measures 7 "
$2850
A0289 LARGE SCRIMSHAW TOOTH BY GEORGE O. HILIOTT
Depicts a pair of Polynesian figures under palm trees, dressed in grass skirts and pointing to a whaling scene. The standing figure’s hair is in a topknot and holds a long club, while the other kneels looking back towards her companion. The other side show a young woman holding a letter in oval frame surrounded by green leaves. A blank car-touche at the base. 7 inches.
There is a handful of scrimshaw sperm whale teeth firmly attributed to Hiliott, with one signed. 2 are in the collections of the New Bedford Whaling Museum and 3 in the Nantucket Historical Society. Each depicts one or more Polynesian Wahinees posed under palm trees.
$11,500
A0318 RARE WHALING BLUBBER MNCING KNIFE
This authentic mincing knife is made with a large thin steel blade, reinforced along the back with wood handles on each end. It shows evidence of being well used. The reinforce back has numerous holes, a feature we have not seen before.
Overall surface rust. Other wise good condition. 38 inches long.
Formerly in the collection of the Valley Forge Historical Society.
$650
A0291 EBEN PIERCE FIRST MODEL DARTING GUN 1865
This is the first model Eben Pierce darting gun patented in 1865. The first model was a muzzle-loaded gun with a simple firing mechanism that was fired by a sliding rod which when striking the whale, slid back to disengage the spring loaded hammer to discharge the gun. A stiff leather sleeve was used to cover the mechanism to protect it from moisture.
This example is mounted on it’s original or old pole with early rope and bomb lance. The leather sleeve which rarely survives, is fully intact and is the best example known. It is marked: “E. PIERCE 1865” with a model number “109” stamped on the breech in 2 places. Also bears a “S S” also in 2 places. The “SS” meaning is unknown. Lacks the sliding trigger rod. Overall length is 77 inches.
$2500
A0243 RARE MARKED SINGLE FLUE HARPOON
This very rare and important single flue harpoon is fully marked J D (James Durfee), the ship mark, BRK LDS for the bark Leonidas and the boat mark with looks like a arrow point. It is exceptional having an extremely long, 7 inch barb. Overall length, 35 3/8 inches
The Leonidas was built in Scituate MA in 1826 as a merchant ship and as sunk as part of the stone fleet during the Civil War.