Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw is sometimes called the ancient art of the mariner. It is the craft of carving decoration onto the teeth and bones of marine life, but most commonly whales. It is also an art that reflects a period when the ocean was seen as an endless resource for exploitation. The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery houses one of the most comprehensive and diverse collections of 19th century scrimshaw in Australia.

- view guide online (html) click here
or
- collection guide (pdf 563k) download here

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