Scrimshaw

An American folk art.

Sailors on whaling ships, with a lot of spare time on their hands during long voyages, created common tools using the byproducts of whales.

Carving the teeth and bone.

Scrimshaw: The Art and Craft of the American Whaler is on exhibit at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana through January 2013.

Miniature Cradle, 19th Century American, Whalebone

Turned Thread Case, 19th Century, Sperm Whale Ivory

Pie Crimper, 1890 - American, Sperm Whale Ivory and Wood

Apple Corer, 1850 - America, Sperm Whale Ivory and Whalebone

Also, in the exhibit is a miniature working guillotine produced by French prisoners-of-war.

Must see to believe!