{"id":4066,"date":"2015-10-28T15:55:35","date_gmt":"2015-10-28T15:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lovesail.com\/ls-news\/?p=4066"},"modified":"2025-11-22T11:39:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T11:39:04","slug":"scrimshaws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/scrimshaws\/","title":{"rendered":"Scrimshaws"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 data-start=\"215\" data-end=\"242\"><strong data-start=\"218\" data-end=\"242\">What Are Scrimshaws?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"244\" data-end=\"736\">It is widely believed that the word <strong data-start=\"280\" data-end=\"295\">\u201cscrimshaw\u201d<\/strong> evolved from a blend of Scandinavian, Dutch, and English slang associated with <em data-start=\"375\" data-end=\"389\">wasting time<\/em> or a <em data-start=\"395\" data-end=\"414\">state of idleness<\/em>. <!--more-->The term may also be linked to <strong data-start=\"447\" data-end=\"464\">\u201cscrimshank,\u201d<\/strong> a piece of British military slang meaning to shirk work or avoid duties. Over time, this language of idleness became connected to the quiet, intricate craftwork sailors produced during long stretches at sea, eventually giving rise to the term we now know as <strong data-start=\"722\" data-end=\"735\">scrimshaw<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"738\" data-end=\"1242\">Most people think of scrimshaws as carvings on whale teeth or bone, created by sailors during their spare time on whaling ships. However, the term actually encompasses a much wider range of handmade objects. Sailors crafted cane and umbrella handles, latches, wooden boxes, corset busks, and small decorative figures. Even those with limited ability in bone carving produced wooden pieces that were still considered scrimshaws. Ivory inlays were often traded between sailors to embellish these creations.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"1244\" data-end=\"1247\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"1249\" data-end=\"1284\"><strong data-start=\"1252\" data-end=\"1284\">Life at Sea and Long Voyages<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1286\" data-end=\"1547\">Life aboard a whaling ship was extremely demanding. Voyages often kept sailors away from home for three or four years, and long periods could pass between whale sightings. These stretches of inactivity left sailors with hours, and sometimes months, of spare time.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1549\" data-end=\"1746\">To maintain morale and keep their minds occupied, sailors turned to creating <strong data-start=\"1626\" data-end=\"1640\">scrimshaws<\/strong>. Crafting offered a welcome distraction from the harsh living conditions and the monotony of life at sea.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"1748\" data-end=\"1751\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"1781\" data-end=\"1836\"><strong data-start=\"1784\" data-end=\"1836\">Were Scrimshaws a Way for Sailors to Earn Money?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1838\" data-end=\"1940\">Although scrimshaws began as a pastime, they often became a <strong data-start=\"1898\" data-end=\"1927\">valuable source of income<\/strong> for sailors.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1942\" data-end=\"1965\"><strong data-start=\"1946\" data-end=\"1965\">Selling in Port<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1966\" data-end=\"2244\">When ships eventually reached port, sailors frequently sold their scrimshaws to locals, traders, or collectors. Engraved whale teeth, decorative boxes, canes, and sewing tools were especially popular. This provided much-needed extra money, as whaling wages were notoriously low.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2246\" data-end=\"2270\"><strong data-start=\"2250\" data-end=\"2270\">Bartering at Sea<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2271\" data-end=\"2488\">Scrimshaws also served as a form of <strong data-start=\"2307\" data-end=\"2317\">barter<\/strong> between sailors. Finely crafted pieces could be exchanged for tobacco, better clothing, extra rations, or other small luxuries, making them useful even while still at sea.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2490\" data-end=\"2516\"><strong data-start=\"2494\" data-end=\"2516\">Post-Voyage Income<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2517\" data-end=\"2726\">Some sailors continued carving after returning home, selling scrimshaws at markets or to maritime collectors. A few even became known locally for their craftsmanship, earning additional income between voyages.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2728\" data-end=\"2857\">So while scrimshaws were originally a way to pass time, they often played a meaningful role in a sailor\u2019s financial life as well.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"2859\" data-end=\"2862\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"1753\" data-end=\"1795\"><strong data-start=\"1756\" data-end=\"1795\">Scrimshaw Designs and Craftsmanship<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1797\" data-end=\"2045\">The most popular materials for scrimshaws were whale teeth and ivory bone, with the tooth of the sperm whale being especially prized. Sperm whale teeth were plentiful and small enough to store in a sailor\u2019s sea chest for the duration of the voyage.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2047\" data-end=\"2119\">To create a piece of scrimshaw, sailors typically followed this process:<\/p>\n<ol data-start=\"2121\" data-end=\"2365\">\n<li data-start=\"2121\" data-end=\"2180\">\n<p data-start=\"2124\" data-end=\"2180\"><strong data-start=\"2124\" data-end=\"2152\">Smooth the tooth or bone<\/strong> using sharkskin or pumice<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2181\" data-end=\"2215\">\n<p data-start=\"2184\" data-end=\"2215\"><strong data-start=\"2184\" data-end=\"2197\">Polish it<\/strong> to a high shine<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2216\" data-end=\"2279\">\n<p data-start=\"2219\" data-end=\"2279\"><strong data-start=\"2219\" data-end=\"2241\">Engrave the design<\/strong> using a knife or a sailcloth needle<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2280\" data-end=\"2365\">\n<p data-start=\"2283\" data-end=\"2365\"><strong data-start=\"2283\" data-end=\"2332\">Rub soot, grease, or gunpowder into the lines<\/strong> so the image stood out clearly<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p data-start=\"2367\" data-end=\"2497\">Typical scrimshaw designs included whaling scenes, ships, sea creatures, the ship\u2019s captain, or portraits of loved ones back home.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5620\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/scrimshaws\/scrimshaw2\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scrimshaw2.jpg?fit=376%2C248&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"376,248\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 2.7&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"scrimshaw2\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;lovesail scrimshaw&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scrimshaw2.jpg?fit=376%2C248&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5620\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scrimshaw2.jpg?resize=300%2C198&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"scrimshaws\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scrimshaw2.jpg?resize=300%2C198&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scrimshaw2.jpg?w=376&amp;ssl=1 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2504\" data-end=\"2527\"><strong data-start=\"2507\" data-end=\"2527\">Scrimshaws Today<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2529\" data-end=\"2702\">Today, <strong data-start=\"2536\" data-end=\"2550\">scrimshaws<\/strong> remain highly valued as a unique form of maritime folk art. Collectors are drawn to their craftsmanship, history, and deep connection to nautical life.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"219\" data-end=\"235\"><strong data-start=\"223\" data-end=\"235\">Footnote<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"237\" data-end=\"786\"><em data-start=\"237\" data-end=\"267\">Historical and Ethical Note:<\/em><br data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"270\" \/>Scrimshaws were created during a time when commercial whaling was common and unregulated, and when ivory from whales and other species was widely used. Today, we recognise the immense harm caused by these practices. <strong data-start=\"486\" data-end=\"620\">Lovesail does not support or condone whaling, the ivory trade, or any activity that exploits marine mammals or endangered species.<\/strong><br data-start=\"620\" data-end=\"623\" \/>Modern scrimshaw artists use only alternative, ethically sourced, or synthetic materials. This article discusses scrimshaws purely within their historical context.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2709\" data-end=\"2743\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9493\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/sailing-word-search\/new-logo-2025-main\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-logo-2025-Main.jpg?fit=300%2C70&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,70\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"new logo 2025 Main\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-logo-2025-Main.jpg?fit=300%2C70&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9493\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-logo-2025-Main.jpg?resize=300%2C70&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"lovesail\" width=\"300\" height=\"70\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"2709\" data-end=\"2743\"><strong data-start=\"2712\" data-end=\"2743\">Join the Lovesail Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2745\" data-end=\"3071\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lovesail.com\">Lovesail.com<\/a> is a global online dating and social networking site for sailing enthusiasts. Whether you\u2019re passionate about scrimshaws, fascinated by maritime history, or simply love life on the water, come aboard our friendly community to meet other devotees for dating, friendship, and crewing opportunities around the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Are Scrimshaws? It is widely believed that the word \u201cscrimshaw\u201d evolved from a blend of Scandinavian, Dutch, and English slang associated with wasting time or a state of idleness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4069,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6479],"tags":[1140,1139,756,1138,753,1137,755,754],"class_list":["post-4066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-discover","tag-ancient-mariner","tag-long-voyages","tag-sailors","tag-scrimhander","tag-scrimshaw","tag-whale-tooth","tag-whaling","tag-whaling-ships"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Scrimshaws: History, Origins &amp; Sailors\u2019 Craftwork | Lovesail Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the origins, history and craftsmanship of scrimshaws. 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It is widely believed that the word \u201cscrimshaw\u201d evolved from a blend of Scandinavian, Dutch, and English slang associated with\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/scrimshaws\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"news\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LoveSail\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-10-28T15:55:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-22T11:39:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lovesail.com\/ls-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scrimshaw.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"420\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"240\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Erica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Erica\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/scrimshaws\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/scrimshaws\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Erica\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6f008703429f2d9a45ff9772c08f272c\"},\"headline\":\"Scrimshaws\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-10-28T15:55:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-22T11:39:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/scrimshaws\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":674,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/scrimshaws\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/10\\\/scrimshaw.jpg?fit=420%2C240&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"ancient mariner\",\"long voyages\",\"sailors\",\"scrimhander\",\"scrimshaw\",\"whale tooth\",\"whaling\",\"whaling ships\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Discover\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/scrimshaws\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/scrimshaws\\\/\",\"name\":\"Scrimshaws: History, Origins & Sailors\u2019 Craftwork | Lovesail Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/scrimshaws\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/scrimshaws\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.lovesail.com\\\/ls-news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/10\\\/scrimshaw.jpg?fit=420%2C240&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-10-28T15:55:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-22T11:39:04+00:00\",\"description\":\"Discover the origins, history and craftsmanship of scrimshaws. 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