Thanks everyone, that was great information ……. and enough to make me more curious and skeptical at the same time. Especially this statement from the link posted by Rauville, to wit:
Only 5% of authentic antique scrimshaw has text, and only 2% of authentic antique scrimshaw are dated by scrimshander. Another "tell" about EFS scrimwork is the over-abundance of text & dates.
The one pictured on the right was the most doubtful for me given the fact it depicts an island(s) in the China Sea with names of places, landmarks, compass “points”, etc., like it was suppose to represent a “
Pirate’s buried treasure map” ……. which doesn’t actually negate it from being authentic scrimshaw, …… but not likely having been done by a sailor on a Whaler. If original, me thinks it would have had to have been made by someone who was quite knowledgeable about that island like maybe a sailor on a “trading ship” that plied the China Sea.
My first question upon seeing that auction “picture” was, ….. what are those two pieces doing showing up in a local “small town” auction in central WV? But one never knows when a “rare find” will show up in an unsuspecting place. (
Like that “lost” oil painting of that Texas battle scene.)
Anyway, all I know about that per say “scrimshaw” is the picture accompanying this Auction notice/listing (
click “view Photo Gallery” tab at upper left), to wit:
http://www.auctionzip.com/Listings/1259388.html The auctioneer, who I have known for at least 20 years, doesn’t give his opinion on any item, he leaves it up to the “buyer” to decide what it is and what its worth.
