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Vintage Authentic Polychrome Scrimshaw Walrus Tusk *NR*
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Vintage Authentic Polychrome Scrimshaw Walrus Tusk *NR*
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This is the last of a small group of scrimshaw items I've been selling for my brother, who acquired them a while ago from a Western NY estate. It's a somewhat unusual and exciting find--an authentic decorated walrus tusk! It's guaranteed to be genuine vintage walrus ivory--not one of the common polymer resin repros you see so many of on eBay. I hardly know w to start with my description! T's so much happening on this piece. Both sides are completely decorated with panoramic scenes of Arctic life. The first side is all animals: four seals near the tip, then a herd of five walrus in the center, and a family group of three polar bears at the other end, one of whom is devouring another hapless seal! The cub is sitting on the ice in the background, wiping his face with his paw--very charming! T are mountains on the horizon, and ice floes and water in the foreground. On the other side, t is a man in a parka driving a sled pulled by two reindeer through the snow, amid icy mountains. He's heading toward a hut made of sewn-together hides in the center. On the far right, a cold Arctic sun hangs over more mountains and cliffs. A large group of birds and a flock of geese hover in the sky, and six tiny penguins perch on the cliff. The detail is really remarkable, and the artwork fits within the contour of the tusk beautifully. The outlines of the decoration appear to have been simply scratched in with a sharp tool, but the shading seems like it may have been done with some sort of mechanical contrivance. It's made up of a series of extremely fine zigzag lines. The effect is so delicate and artistic, it almost looks like an etching or a lithograph. The added pigments include black, grey, brown, tan, blue and yellow. They are more like transparent tints than paint, and were very skillfully applied. Please note, the quality of my photographs does not do justice to the beauty of this tusk; I could not capture the minute details in closeup with my camera. The decoration may appear blurry, but be assured, it is crisp, fine and expertly done. If you like what you see in the photos, you'll be delighted when you see it in person! Condition is generally very good. The only real problem is a couple of chips on the edge of the cut end. They are together and the larger one is about a half-inch across. Because of their placement, they are hardly noticeable when viewing the decoration--and then only from the side with the animals. T is some light shelf wear on the high spots among the decoration; it is made up of many fine, crisscross scratches which are really only visible if you hold it up to the light just right. T are also a number of long, fine, darkened longitudinal hairlines which are to be expected on ivory of this age. In general, the surface is very smooth--almost glassy--with a nice mellow ivory color. Any white spots or streaks you may notice in the photos are merely glare from the flash. The cut end displays the "cream of wheat" center which is characteristic of walrus ivory. T are a few tiny, naturally occurring pits and crevices in this area. The tusk is 22.5" long, and the cut end is 3.25" X 1.75". It is very dense and heavy for its size, weighing in at 4.25 lbs. I don't know the age for certain, but I'm comfortable hazarding a guess that it's in the area of 50-60 years old. I am assuming it's the product of a native artisan in Alaska or elsew in the Arctic region, due to the material and subject matter of the decorations. If I've left out any pertinent information which might be helpful to you when deciding whether to bid, please contact me and I'll try to help! With its low opening bid and no reserve, this could be a fantastic opportunity to add this intriguing and beautiful piece to your collection of scrimshaw, maritime art, or nautical curiosities. The winning bidder (USA residents only, please) will pay for actual shipping and required insurance, to be determined at the auction's end based upon your location and the sell...
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