Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

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.

Significance/collection rationale
The scrimshaw collection held by the Museum comes from a number of sources. A significant part of the collection can be attributed to the photographer and collector, JW Beattie whose museum was purchased by the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in 1927. He sourced items of scrimshaw from Hobart-based collectors including Sir William Crowther and the Bayley family of Runnymede. Recent additions to the scrimshaw collection include works by artist Christian Ahern for exhibition at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in 1989.

The strength of this collection is its diversity. It features objects that are both functional and decorative. Walking sticks with clenched fist handles, table ornaments such as spoons, forks and eggcups and desk sets of Tasmanian timbers with whalebone feature prominently. Of particular interest are the powder horns, used to load muskets with gunpowder for firing. Some of these accessories are decorated with symbols of love, war, and families at home. Others feature snippets of popular culture periodicals, perhaps the only inspiration available during long periods in isolated areas. Scrimshaw provides tantalising glimpses into life on the oceanic transport highways of the pre-20th century world.

Discussion
The whaling industry played an important part in 19th century Tasmanian life, particularly so in Hobart, one of the deepest ports in the southern hemisphere. Whaling was undertaken primarily for the extraction of whale oil and bone. Shore-based whaling stations were established throughout the colony. Hobart became a busy and prosperous port hosting vessels from the United States, Britain, France and New Zealand. Extant scrimshaw collections in Tasmania reflect these diverse origins. Flags, flora, fauna and depictions of events in world history give clues as to the nationality of the creator.

The whaleteeth or bone associated with scrimshaw was meticulously polished. Images were pinpricked onto the surface of the tooth or bone. Similar to a join-the-dots puzzle, lines were incised to create an image. Pigments were used to highlight the engraving. Scrimshaw’s uniqueness is that it is not just pictorial. Whaleteeth or bone can be carved in relief or to create forms in its own right; tools, walking sticks, cutlery and fashion accessories to name a few. This particular scrimshaw collection features a unique commercial product of the whaling industry: Edwardian whalebone corset supports.

In 1875 the Hobart-based Mercury noted the inclusion of timber and whalebone cruet stand for the Melbourne and Philadelphia exhibitions:

Mercury 24 June 1875
‘SPECIMENS OF TURNERY… a cruet stand and egg stand combined, made of turned wood, polished, and valued at 10 pounds. The various cups, salt cellars, and pepper bottles are carved of whale’s teeth, in an exquisite tulip pattern. The handle is also of carved whale’s teeth representing leaves. The maker is a mechanic named P.O. Carlson, a Danish immigrant, and he has executed the work in his leisure hours, or, as he terms it "candle work," after his day’s labour is over for the Government at Port Arthur, where he is employed …’

In the latter half of the 19th century, the whaling industry in Tasmania came to a close. Items of scrimshaw subsequently became of interest to collectors. In Tasmania, two well-known identities Sir William Crowther and the photographer JW Beattie became prominent collectors of scrimshaw. They bought, sold, donated and traded items of scrimshaw with each other and public institutions. The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery acquired Beattie’s large museum including a highly diverse scrimshaw collection in 1927. A year later a visiting journalist wrote about the scrimshaw display at the Museum’s Royal Park site:

Launceston Examiner 18 May 1928
Priceless Relics: Historical Collection A Tour Around the Cases (No.3)
'... Just how this name (scrimshaw) came about nobody seems to know and the best authorities content themselves with a general description of the finished work without making any attempt at solving the problem of the word’s origin and some think it is the name of some sailor called Scrimshaw who first started the craze going. Others trace it to the American Indian and so the guesses go on, though for our purpose it is enough to know by means of ground out nails knives and even bits of hoop-iron cunningly worked to a cutting edge these men simulated the ivory engraver’s art ...'

The Donors: Some biographical information
JW Beattie (1859–1930)
James Watt Beattie was born in Scotland and emigrated to Tasmania with his parents in 1878. He was a well-known environmentalist, photographer and inveterate collector. Beattie had a passion for convictism, especially Port Arthur. He travelled Tasmania visiting areas not photographed or documented before. Beattie’s fervour has furnished the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery with a unique series of collections representing early European Tasmania.

HC Abbott (1876–1965)
Henry Charles Abbott was born in Ballarat in Victoria and came to Tasmania as a young boy. His family owned Phoenix Brewery in Paterson Street Launceston, which in the late 1880s began producing soft drinks and became known as Abbott’s Pty Ltd. Mr Abbott was interested in art and music and gave generously to various charities through several trust funds he established in his name. The HC Abbott Hall in St Georges Square, Launceston was built with funds donated by Abbott.

CG Ryan (1866–1954)
Cecil Godfrey Ryan was born in Brighton, Melbourne in 1866. His sister was the well-known Australian artist Ellis Rowan. Ryan was a graduate of the University of Melbourne and came to Tasmania to live in the early 1900s. He established the Pioneer mine in the north-east of the State and had a keen interest in ethnography, history and photography. He died in Launceston in 1954, aged 88 years.

Significant items in this collection:

Rocky Whelan Club
John ‘Rocky’ Whelan, a convict, served part of his sentence at both Norfolk Island and at Port Arthur penal settlements. He escaped from a labour gang in the 1840s, leading a life of robbery and violence. Whelan’s most notorious hideout was on the slopes of Mount Wellington in Hobart; a cave on the mountain still known to this day as Rocky Whelan’s Cave. This carved whalebone club was found in one of Whelan’s hideouts.
Beattie Collection QVM 1983.H.39

Henning Drinking Cup
Captain Shurlock Henning (1829–1898) of the 88th Regiment, later Lieutenant General, carved an inscription on this cup in November 1855. Henning served through the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny and was later awarded a Commander of the Order of the Bath. It is not known how the cup came to be in Tasmania but it can first be attributed to a Mrs McRodden of the Sportsman’s Hall Hotel in Charles Street, Launceston, in the 1880s.

Carved and decorated animal horn with cork base. Made by Captain S Henning and used as a drinking cup. Inscribed as follows: ‘Landd in Turkey 19th Apr 1854. Landd on the Crimea 14th Sept 1854. The Battl of Alma 20th Septr 1854 The taken of Ballaklava 27th of Septr 54. The Batl of Ballaklava 26th Oct 54. The Bat of Inkermann 5th Novbr 54 The First Siege that opened on Sebastapol was WAS ON 17TH Oct 54. Sebastapol captured 8th Sept 55 The Armistice held in March 56 This horn was found where the explosion took place 16th Novr 55. S.Henning Capt 88th Regt.’ Seven arrows featured at bottom of cup.
Purchased 1941 from Mr HC Abbott QVM 1985.H.23

Bayley Stand with cups
This display stand with carved eggcups was possibly the work of Captain James Bayley (1823–1894) of the residence Runnymede in north Hobart in southern Tasmania. Bayley, a native of Essex, played an important part in the colony’s whaling industry. He is said to have had a lathe on board his vessel for creating turned and carved pieces of scrimshaw.

Made of carved whalebone and Tasmanian woods including blackwood
and Huon pine.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.73

Captain Kelly’s walking stick
Captain James Kelly (1791–1859), a prominent maritime identity in early Tasmanian maritime history, owned this walking stick. He circumnavigated Tasmania in an open whaleboat and was the first recorded European explorer of Macquarie Harbour on the west coast. Based upon his recommendation, a timber station was established by the government soon after his visit. There are many landmarks in Tasmania named after Kelly, including Kelly’s Steps behind Salamanca Place in Hobart.

Carved whalebone, whaletooth and metal. Clenched fist at top with scalloped metal cuff. Features dots inlaid on vertical stripes. Captain James Kelly presented this walking stick to the Lady Franklin Museum in Hobart. Kelly was a whaling captain in southern Tasmania during the 19th century.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.93

Powder horns
The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery’s scrimshaw collection includes a highly unique collection of powder horns. Animal horns have been employed as receptacles for centuries. Because they are hollow and were relatively easy to obtain they provided good storage for gunpowder and often decorated with regimental emblems. Little is known about the provenance and markings adorning the powder horns in this collection.

Other items in this collection:

Walking stick
Carved whalebone, ivory and animal horn. Features black and white striped inlay with an octagonal head.
Beattie Collection QVM 1983.H.128

Walking stick
Carved ivory, blackwood, silver, animal horn and brass. Clenched fist at top. This walking stick belonged to John Price (1808–1857). He was the Police Magistrate at Hobart Town between 1838 and 1845.
Beattie Collection QVM 1983.H.129

Drinking horn or cup
Carved animal horn. Turned base. Belonged to Captain James Kelly (1791–1859).
Beattie Collection QVM 1983.H.155

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Two boats, one French and one English.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.0016

Jawbone, part
Decorated half jaw bone of whale. Portrait of a man and a woman under an arch of foliage. ‘THE TWO LOVERS’ at bottom of image. Image in dot format.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.18

Desk set
Decorated and carved whaletooth, whalebone, wood and metal. The whalebone back is decorated with a ship and the two whale teeth with a man and a woman in Scottish dress. Base of Huon pine.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.20

Fork
Carved whalebone with metal band around waist. Reputedly made by a convict at Port Arthur.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.21

Spoon
Carved whalebone. Reputedly made by a convict at Port Arthur. Inscribed with the initials ‘R D’ and possibly ‘REX’.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.22

Powder horn
Decorated animal horn. Inscribed as follows: ‘HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY/GEORGE IV, THE RIGHT HON VISC NELSON/VICE ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE, John Jackson R.A.’ Varnished.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.24

Powder horn
Decorated animal horn. Sun, boat with US flag, crown encircled by wreath, vase of flowers, bird, fish, heart with ‘LOVE’ inscribed in centre.
QVM 1985.H.25

Powder horn
Decorated animal horn. Crown, boat and soldier illustrations. Scalloped lip.
Donation CG Ryan QVM 1985.H.26

Powder horn
Decorated animal horn. Inscribed as follows: ‘George Hiddons/INDEMNITY’ ‘80TH/ OR/ STAF/FORD/SHIRE’ Serrated lip.
QVM 1985.H.27

Powder horn
Decorated animal horn. Inscribed as follows: ‘SIC FORTI HOBARTIA GREVIT’. Translation: ‘Thus in Strength Does Hobart Grow’
QVM 1985.H.28

Jawbone, part
Decorated half jaw bone of whale with eight teeth. Portrait of a man
surrounded by a wreath of wheat ears. The portrait is possibly Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh who visited the Australian colonies in 1868.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.29

Jawbone, part
Decorated half jaw bone of whale with eight teeth. Portrait of a man in medieval costume. Another of two men one with arm outstretched. Both images have been coloured black. Faint drawing of another man.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.30

Jawbone, part
Decorated half jaw bone of whale with 10 teeth. Portrait of a naked man being eaten by a vulture.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.31

Jawbone, part
Decorated half jaw bone of whale. Portrait of a man holding a woman’s hand. Engraving of plant above. Both images in dot format.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.32

Right angle measuring square
Carved whalebone with Masonic Lodge logo on one side and ‘??D’ on the reverse.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.33

Baton
Decorated whalebone baton with metal head and base. Leather strap tied to base.
Purchased 1971 QVM 1985.H.35

Fid
Carved whalebone tool for separating rope strands.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.36

Fid/Club
Carved whalebone tool for separating rope strands. Six rings engraved around top.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.37

Splicing tool
Carved whalebone tool for splicing rope.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.38

Splicing tool
Carved whalebone tool for splicing rope.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.39

Splicing tool
Carved whalebone tool for splicing rope.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.40

Serving mallet
Carved whalebone.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.41

Boat builder’s chisel
Carved whalebone
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.42

Seam rubber
Carved whalebone tool used by sailmakers in the manufacture of canvas sails. It smooths seams of sails after sewing.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.43

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of Britannia crowning a woman with a laurel wreath.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.45

Whaletooth
Polished whale tooth.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.46

Whaletooth
Polished whale tooth.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.47

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of man in naval clothing with cap in one hand and bag in the other. Ship in background. ‘1836’ scratched lightly under image.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.52

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman possibly in Dutch costume with hand in pocket.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.53

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman with three-quarter figure. Long hair.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.55

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a man and woman holding hands.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.56

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Image of a plant in a pot.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.57

Whaletooth
Decorated whale tooth. Faint image of a house.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.58

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a man riding a donkey.
‘ENGLAND’ inscribed on donkey. Man in striped trousers at rear of image.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.59

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of woman in full-length dress and long hair.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.60

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman in dress and hat. Back of whaletooth is inscribed ‘EW’ above three intertwined fish.
QVM 1985.H.61

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait in red and black of a Scottish soldier in highland dress and and woman holding staff in her right hand. Woman wearing dress with labels inscribed as follows: ‘BELLS LIFE’, ‘POST’, ‘GAZETT’ (sic), ‘HERALD’ ‘ARGUS’. Pair to QVM.1985.H.63
Purchased 1928 QVM 1985.H.62

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait in red and black of English soldier with woman in full-length dress and red ribbon around her neck. Pair to QVM 1985.H.62.
Purchased 1928 QVM 1985.H.63

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman embracing a cupid. One of a pair to QVM 1985.H.65
Purchased 1928 QVM 1985.H.64

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a bedraggled woman with bare feet. One of a pair to QVM 1985.H.64
Purchased 1928 QVM 1985.H.65

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a man holding a letter. Bookcase and clock in background. One of a pair to QVM.1985.H.67
Purchased 1928 QVM 1985.H.66

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman in a dress with three layers. One of a pair to QVM.1985.H.66
Purchased 1928 QVM 1985.H.67

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman lifting another woman from the water. One of a pair to QVM 1985.H.69
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.68

Whaletooth
Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a seated man holding a gun next to a seated woman with black dog in front. One of a pair to QVM 1985.H.68.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.69

Desk set
Carved and decorated whaletooth, whalebone, wood and metal. The fretted whalebone back is decorated with flags of the Honourable East India Company and the two whale teeth with women in late 1820s dress.
Purchased 1940 from Mrs E Fisher Launceston QVM 1985.H.70

Basket
Whalebone and wood, oval-shaped open basket. Design features two rows of vertical eye shapes between horizontal borders. Wooden base.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.71

Basket
Whalebone and wood, open oval-shaped basket. Design features two rows of vertical eye shapes between horizontal borders. Eyes have horizontal line through middle. Top and bottom has scalloped edge. Wooden base.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.72

Spoon
Carved whalebone. Used as a mustard spoon.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.74a

Spoon
Carved whalebone. Used as a mustard spoon.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.74b

Spoon
Carved whalebone. Used as a salt spoon.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.75a

Spoon
Carved whalebone. Used as salt spoon
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.75b

Spoon
Carved whalebone. Used as a salt spoon.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.75c

Bodkin
Carved whalebone and steel. Bodkins were used for threading cord, tape or ribbon through holes or castings. The sharp point of the bodkin could be used for making holes in fabric or embroidery.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.77

Pincushion
Carved whalebone pincushion base. Decoration features two heart shapes beside one another. Top has teethed edge. Missing cushion for interior.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.78

Napkin ring
Carved whalebone highly polished circular ring.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.79

Napkin ring
Carved whalebone highly polished circular ring.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.80

Napkin ring
Carved whalebone highly polished circular ring.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.81

Spoon
Carved whalebone. Used as a mustard spoon.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.82

Game, part
Carved whale tooth cylindrical in shape. Appears to be a dice thrower turned on a machine. Rings around interior and exterior.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.83

Architect’s model
Whalebone and wood model. Base is wooden with carved whalebone fence at front. Model has three walls and two pillars at each end.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.84

Tusk
Small polished tusk carved with eight sides.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.89

Club
Long polished walrus tooth used as clubbing device. Hole in narrow end of tooth.
Purchased 1970 from Mr A Sims, QVM 1985.H.91

Club
Long polished walrus tooth used as a clubbing device. Hole in narrow end of tooth.
Purchased 1970 from Mr A Sims, QVM 1985.H.92

Walking stick
Carved shark bone. This walking stick is made from the backbone of a shark, caught at Eagle Hawk Neck. It was made by one of the keepers of the dogs that were placed along the isthmus to prevent convicts from escaping.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.94

Walking stick
Carved whalebone and baleen. Features black and white striped inlay with an octagonal head.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.95

Walking stick
Carved whalebone. Octagonal head featuring star with eight points on head. Provenanced to Rev. Robert Knopwood (1763–1838), Tasmania's first chaplain.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.96

Walking stick
Carved whalebone. Two sections of diamond shape incisions heavily inlaid with nail heads.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.97

Walking stick
Carved whalebone and baleen. Octagonal head.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.99

Napkin ring
Carved whalebone highly polished circular ring. Engraved ‘KB’.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.100

Spinning top
Carved whalebone spinning top.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.101

Cane, part
Carved turned whalebone. Decorative band with flowers around top.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.102

Spatula
Carved whalebone spatula. 150mm length.
Donation LT Moss, 1969 QVM 1985.H.103

Cannon
Carved whalebone example of a cannon.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.105

Tusk [Boar?]
Polished and carved tusk.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.106

Cane, part
Carved and decorated animal bone. Features decorative cross-hatching.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.109

Tape measure
Carved whalebone in three parts. Used to dispense ribbon for measuring.
QVM 1985.H.110

Ring
Carved whalebone ring. Five rectangular panels one with small hole in centre.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.111

Comb
Carved whalebone. Used as a baby’s comb c. 1939.
Donation Mr E Hogarth 1939 QVM 1985.H.163

Whaletooth
Carved whaletooth. Faint image of man in armour with sword reading a letter.
Beattie Collection QVM 1986.H.180

Powder horn
Illustrations of warriors, bird, ship, symbols. Corrugated lip. One warrior appears to have had genitalia effaced. Inscribed on inside as follows: ‘HORN/ WITH SCRIMSHAW WORK/MISS A CAMPBELL’ ‘425’ ‘FROM DR G.M. PARKER’
Donation Mrs Lyne 1987 QVM 1987.H.83

Whaletooth section
A late 20th century decorated piece of whale tooth by Christian Ahern depicting the Tamar boat, Tasma
Gift from the artist QVM 1995.H.1794

Whaletooth
Polished but undecorated whaletooth. Two holes punched on bottom at opposite ends.
Donation Mr Frank Smith 1997 QVM 1997.H.712

Packet, collar supports
Cardboard packet containing Edwardian collar supports made of whalebone covered in cotton.
Name of product is ‘Startler’ and made in Germany.
QVM 1998.H.51

Desk set
Decorated and carved whaletooth, whalebone, wood and metal. The whalebone back is decorated with a sillouhette of hearts and shields. Teeth (QVM 1985.H.68) feature woman holding wreath above head and man painting picture.
Beattie Collection QVM 2002.H.15

Spoon
Carved whalebone spoon/spatula.
QVM 2005.H.46

Corkscrew
Brass and whalebone corkscrew. Handle is turned polished whalebone with incised lines. Barrel is threaded and made of brass.
QVM 2005.H.47

Handle
Animal bone handle. Would have been attached to walking stick.
QVM 2005.H.48

Walking stick
Whalebone walking stick with cross-hatching. Octagonal head.
QVM 2005.H.50

Whaletooth section
A late 20th century decorated piece of whaletooth by Christian Ahern depicting the Tamar boat, Ione. On reverse inscribed ‘Christian’
Gift from the artist QVM 2005.H.587

Whaletooth section
A late 20th century decorated piece of whale tooth by Christian Ahern depicting the Tamar boat, Nutmeg. On reverse inscribed ‘NUTMEG/Christian’ Wire hook.
Gift from the artist QVM 2005.H.588

UNDECORATED/UNCARVED/UNPOLISHED:

Whaletooth
Undecorated whaletooth.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.48

Whaletooth
Undecorated whaletooth. Poor condition. Metal nail through centre at base.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.49

Whaletooth
Undecorated whaletooth.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.50

Whaletooth
Undecorated whaletooth.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.51

Whaletooth
(one of a pair with 1986.H.179)
Polished but undecorated whaletooth.
Purchase Mr A Sims 1970 QVM 1985.H.54

Bone
Length of bone. Disc shape.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.87

Bone
Length of bone. Undecorated.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.88

Bone
Length of bone. Appears to have been turned. Circular marks on base.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.90

Bone
Length of bone. Cube shaped.
Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.108

Whaletooth
Polished but undecorated whaletooth. (one of a pair with 1985.H.54)
Purchase Mr A Sims 1970 QVM 1986.H.179

Whaletooth
Undecorated whaletooth.
Donation Mr Frank Smith 1997 QVM 2006.H.191

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