Scrimshaw Walrus Tusk - Morris Museum

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This circa 1870-85 scrimshaw measures 27 inches long and showcases several captivating images, including a lighthouse proudly displaying flags, an American warship with open gunports, and an urban street scene that may possibly be New York City. What began as a hobby among New England whalers evolved into a highly refined craft. Whalers skillfully scratched drawings onto the teeth and bones of whales, walruses, porpoises, and mollusk shells. Candle soot and tobacco juice were carefully rubbed into the engravings to reveal the images in sharp detail. By the late 19th century, the discovery of natural gas and other petroleum-based products led to a significant decline in the need for whale oil, ultimately resulting in scrimshaw becoming a rare art form. Description Credit: Maria Ribaudo, Collections Manager at Morris Museum. The photogrammetry process was accomplished using 220 photographs taken with Agisoft Photoscan software.