Salem Education Foundation – sefspringauction2013
Auction Ends: May 5, 2013 10:00 PM EDT

Collectibles

One of a kind OAK hand mirror with Ivory and hand etched scrimshaw by MaryEllen Sullivan

Item Number
404
Estimated Value
85 USD
Sold
56 USD to patchwerk7
Number of Bids
5  -  Bid History

Item Description

Mary Ellen Sullivan of Salem Mass was taught the art of scrimshaw decades ago by her friend and mentor Tom DeMont, a native of Martha's Vineyard Island and owner of Edgartown Scrimshaw Gallery until his death in December of 2011. Every piece of scrimshaw she etches is fondly dedicated to his memory.

Oak hand mirror Size: 

  • Open 5.5" x 2.5"
  • Closed 3.5" x 2.5"
  • Mirror 2"dia
Scrimshaw is an art form that originated in America on whaling ships in the 1700's.  Whaling voyages could last years and to fill countless idle hours sailors would use pocket knives or sailmakers' needles to carve images on polished sperm whale teeth. They would then rub pigment into the scratches, making a permanent work of art.  By the end of the 1800's the need for whale oil declined and along with it the whaling industry and scrimshaw.
In the 1960's President John F Kennedy began collecting scrimshaw, which led to a revival of this almost lost art. Today most scrimshaw is done on registered whale or elephant ivory, bone, antler, and fossil ivories such as mastodon and woolly mammoth.
A maker of scrimshaw is known as a scrimshander.

Item Special Note

Pick up in Salem, MA. Will ship at buyers expense.

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