Ivory Free "Scrimshaw" Etchings
Most well known as the work of whalers, sailors and hunters, scrimshaw is the art of carving and/or etching on various materials. Most of my pieces are nature shaped or sourced pre cut. From there I trim, drill, fine sand, etch, ink and polish by hand without electric tools. I work with Tagua nut- aka "vegetable ivory", shell, plastic, and bone from domesticated cow, lamb and Asian water buffalo. Complex and ever changing legal limitations on the use of ivory, tortoise shell and other materials vary by state and country. I do not use any of the materials in question. The bone I use is considered "secondary use" and may have otherwise been discarded. Deep consideration and contemplation of human reliance on other animals is woven into my work.
I do not work with ivory, tusk, antler, horn, teeth or any indeterminable material including antiques as origin and source are often difficult to determine.
I do not work with ivory, tusk, antler, horn, teeth or any indeterminable material including antiques as origin and source are often difficult to determine.
