Scrimshaw The art of intricate carving on ivory, and the resulting pieces. Since harvesting ivory is illegal due to overhunting, ethical scrimshanders use recycled ivory from old piano keys, extinct animals, and naturally shed antlers.
Scrimshaw: A type of folk art dating from at least the 17th century in which whale teeth, whale bones and walrus tusks are engraved or lightly carved with a picture or design.
Scrimshaw
Carved or engraved ivory or vegetable ivory. The engraved lines and textured surfaces are often colored with inks and dyes.
Setting
A mounting or the portion of a mounting which actually holds the stone.
SCRIMSHAW
The ancient art of ivory carving as practiced by seafarers to pass their long days at sea. Nowadays these intricate carvings are made using ivory from old sources such as piano keys, long dead animals as well as antler and bone.
Scrimshaw: Originally incised whalebone or whale ivory, with paint or ink rubbed into the engravings; carved by American whalers; the look and style has been copied in plastics.
Scroll: A spiral curve.
3) Scrimshaw: In this technique a design is shallowly engraved into the surface of horn, bone or ivory then inked, or painted to provide contrast or color.
Scrimshaw is the traditional art of painting on ivory or ivory substitutes. Fine lines are incised on the surface of the material and then painted over with colored inks.
The Art of Scrimshaw
Being a relatively soft, and light colored material, ivory is a perfect canvas for intricate carving.
Be particularly wary if an ivory carving is shaded with a brownish grey; scrimshaw work and antique Japanese netsuke (sash cord buttons) are always finished like this, and cleaning it off would seriously detract from their value.
 See also: Art, Color, Surface, Jewel, Natural
  
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