North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Legends of the West: Western & Native American Sale

Sat, Sep 23, 2023 11:00AM EDT
Lot 703

Early 1900s Scrimshaw Carved Walrus Tusk Cup

Estimate: $150 - $300

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$30,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
Featured in this lot is this early 1900s scrimshaw walrus tusk cup. The term “scrimshaw” was coined in 18th Century America aboard a whaling vessel. There are Inuit ivory carving that pre and post-date the whaleman’s scrimshaw, which may indicate simultaneous development of this art form. As whaling faded at the turn of the 19th century so did the scrimshaw trade. However, in the 1960’s President John F. Kennedy’s collection created a revival in the creation and collection of this unique art. The piece shows a cylindrical shape and features scrimshaw on both flat parts of the cup. The scrimshaw shows a floral design of a small stick with six leaves, three on each side, in intricate detail. The piece shows fair condition as there are two long cracks on the flat parts of the cup, but no other signs of damage are present. The walrus tusk cup measures 1 1/8" L x 1 11/16" W x 2 7/8" H. The piece weighs 84.4 grams.

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