Without a doubt, William Gilkerson is recognized as the Benvenuto Cellini of scrimshaw, but instead of Cellini’s silver & gold sculptures, Gilkerson’s choice of matrix is whale ivory. Every page of this 120-page book is beautifully illustrated with either Gilkerson sketches, photographs of his scrimwork, or photographs of historic scrimshaw. The author entitled Chapter 1 as The Old Scrimshaw, and is devoted to traditional Yankee scrimshaw. Chapter 2 is entitled The New Scrimshaw, and focuses on scrimwork completed since 1924. Chapter 3 deals with both the endangered Sperm whale, and the endangered artform of scrimshaw. The next six chapters are about the author’s scrimwork subjects, and are entitled: Whalers; Ship Portraits; The Crafted Artifact; Fantasy & Imagery; Pirates; and Tools & Techniques. Another MUST OWN book.
The near extinction of species after species is a recurring theme in the history of whaling, with the whalers being forced by scarcity of prey to hunt new areas or different types of whales. In fact, the present situation can only be fully understood in the historical context, as set out in this eminently readable account. Harpooned follows the fortunes not only of whales, but also of the many nations that have hunted them, from the primitive methods of Norsemen or Native Americans, to modern factory mechanization of the Japanese and Russians. The illustrations are as wide-ranging as the narrative: medieval misconceptions of the whales’ anatomy; early engravings, paintings, and photos of ships; the men; and the whole gory process of reducing the whale. In short, every aspect of a centuries-old profession that, like its prey, may soon become extinct.
Written by one of the most acclaimed marine writer and artist of the present day, this 542-page soft cover volume presents the powerful & fascinating story of one of our most significant and complex relationships with nature. Tracking whaling from neolithic hunts to the world ban on commercial whaling, with fascinating natural & cultural history throughout, Ellis has given the most comprehensive volume yet written on the subject. Prolifically & superbly illustrated. A strongly suggested addition to a serious collectors library.