Carved Whalebone Sailors Billet or Short Stick (1800 to 1900 Anglo American)

Whalebone

Outfitting a whaling ship for a 3 or 4 year sojourn before leaving port with all the supplies needed was impossible and in remote waters the replacement of equipment was vital to the success of the voyage, so whale-men became innately resourceful. Scrimshaw came to play an important role on board ship.
Scrimshander’s made almost every type of tool or item needed : sail-makers fids, awls, thimbles, blocks and a vast array of carpenters tools. All of which are now eagerly sought after and collected.

A Carved Whalebone Sailors Billet or Short Stick
Old smooth and worn yellow patina
Early 19th Century

Size : 61 cm long – 24 ins long