Scrimshaw is derived from the shipboard practice of sailors creating common tools,
and on whaling ships the byproducts of whales were readily available.
The term originally referred to the making of these tools,
only later referring to works of art.
Early scrimshaw was done with crude sailing needles, and the movement of the ship,
as well as the skill of the artist, produced drawings of varying levels of detail
and artistry. Originally, candle black, soot or tobacco juice would have been used to
bring the etched design into view. Today's artists use finer tools in various sizes,
mostly borrowed from the dental industry. Some scrimshanders ink their work with more
than one color, and restrained polychromed examples of this art are now popular.

For more indepth information, one can look at http://www.scrimshaw-by-sandra-brady.com

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last changed on: 12-05-2009