Most of the expensive antique scrimworks are precisely executed by known artists, but most antique scrimwork was scribed by the common whaleman, who had no formal training and not much natural talent. The majority of whaler's work was for his own amusement, or as gifts to family. Occasionally, a whaler quickly & crudely scribed a whale tooth for use as barter (trade) in port, usually for a bottle of rum, or other personal comfort considerations.
Today's scrimshaw climate is little different. Collectors commission artists to scribe specific scenes onto specific teeth; journeyman scrimshanders produce scrimwork "on spec"(ulation), in hopes of selling such pieces at art shows, or on eBay, or through the artist's internet website. Then there is the tourist trade: minimally scribed, highly repetitve images, made specifically to be sold as souvenirs to visiting tourists, in ports such as Horta in the Azore Islands, or along the boardwalks in New England cites, such as Mystic, New Bedford, and Nantucket.
Tourist-trade quality should not be confused with collectable scrimwork. Much if it is "factory-produced" in cottage industries, or in small assembly-line fashion, where one group of worker prepare the ivory, a second group transfers images onto the teeth, another group scribes the images, and a finishing group ink and wipe the teeth. Tourist-trade scrimwork may rise in value based solely on the ivory, but the scribed image will never be considered artistic nor of investment quality. In fact, some scrimshawed whale teeth are worth more after the scrimwork has been removed.
Another source of lower grade scrimwork is from former Soviet countries, such as Russia, Moldavia, and the Ukraine, where late 20th Century whaling provided stockpiles of Sperm whale teeth. Russian artists have adapted to scribing on readily available ivory as a new source of income. Some are quite talented, while others are merely journeyman.
It is also evident in some recent scrimwork that the scriber did not do his or her homework, such as researching whale anatomy, nor proper whaleboat appointment, nor whaling ship configuration. Such discrepancies are occasionally noted in the following typical "Tourist Trade" examples.
These crudely-patterned examples have been repeated hundreds of times on various shapes & sizes of ivory.
Many collectors consider these a sad waste of Sperm whale teeth.
Does anyone recognize signature?
