Collecting Antique Scrimshaw Whale Teeth for the love of it!
What is Antique Scrimshaw? Antique Scrimshaw is a form of art that seamen of the 19th century practiced while spending countless hours hunting for whales. Byproducts of whales included ivory whale teeth which were scrimmed with tools to create designs and scenes for loved ones, themselves, friends, or out of boredom.
We only collect scrimshaw whale teeth that are from the 19th century, or that which is considered "antique." If you are not sure if you piece is antique or genuine whale tooth then you're welcome to email us for our input. Our email address is antiquescrimshawwhaletooth@gmail.com. We only collect antique scrimshaw for the enjoyment of it so you can be assured your piece will go to a good place where it will be shared with others who appreciate this form of historical art. 
You won't find anyone else with as great a passion for the preservation of this form of American art as us.
If you have any antique scrimshaw whale teeth that you're interested in selling then please feel free to send us an email with any photos and history of the item(s) you have. If you don't want to sell your piece, but have questions or are interested in learning more about your scrimshaw then we'll do what we can to point you in the right direction in your research.
What's so fascinating about antique scrimshaw whale teeth? Antique scrimshaw has a unique way of linking the present to the past. Anyone who has ever held an authentic scrimshaw whale tooth might appreciate the process that one took to harvest the tooth and what dreams, thoughts, heartaches, and struggles were going through a sailor's mind. This art medium provides an avenue that takes us back to the 19th century, when whalemen had to fight for their lives out at sea.
Is it legal to sell my antique scrimshaw whale tooth? It is legal to sell if your piece is antique, or harvested prior to 1872, as more recent pieces are illegal to sell without a federal permit. Scrimshaw whale teeth that are over 100 years old (prior to the 1972 Endangered Species Act) do not fall under this same law since they are classified as "antiques." Through photos most antique scrimshaw teeth can be differentiated as being 100 years or older, or not. Characteristics such as age cracks, old dirt in the cavity of the tooth, patina, ink location, subject matter, history, and design are all used to determine an item's authentcity.
How do I sell my antique scrimshaw tooth? You can sell your tooth at auction, to an antique dealer, or to a private collector. It is important to note that we fall into the latter category and are not antique scrimshaw dealers. Dealers often buy a piece and resell it for profit. A scrimshaw dealer or auction company will take a cut of the final selling price, up to 20%, which could be money in your pocket if you search for the right buyer or private collectors such as us. Not only that, your tooth will go to a good place where it will be appreciated with other scrimshaw and whaling enthusiasts. If we are interested in your piece we will generally give you above market value for your tooth.
Email any photos or questions to antiquescrimshawwhaletooth@gmail.com. We are glad to help anyone with their research, appraisal estimates, questions, or items they might want to sell. All questions and submissions are kept strictly private.