Scrimshaw Collection Guide - Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

Scrimshaw Collection Guide 

Introduction 

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: 

QVMAG History Collection Guide—Scrimshaw (Kim Simpson), October 2006 Page 1 of 24 

© Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

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 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. 

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. This particular object is 

provenanced to the JW Beattie collection. 


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. 


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. 



Items in this collection: 

Walking Stick 

Carved whalebone, ivory and animal horn. Features black and white striped 

inlay with an octagonal head. 


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. 


Drinking Horn or Cup 

Carved animal horn. Turned base. Belonged to Captain James Kelly (1791– 

1859). 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Two boats, one French and one English. 


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. 




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. 


Drinking Horn or Cup 

Carved and decorated animal horn with cork base. Made by Captain S 

Henning (1829–1898) and used as a drinking cup. Inscribed as follows: 

‘Landd in Turkey 19 th Apr 1854. Landd on the Crimea 14 th Sept 1854. The 

Battl of Alma 20 th Septr 1854 The taken of Ballaklava 27 th of Septr 54. The 

Batl of Ballaklava 26 th Oct 54. The Bat of Inkermann 5 th Novbr 54 The First 

Siege that opened on Sebastapol was WAS ON 17 TH Oct 54. Sebastapol 

captured 8 th Sept 55 The Armistice held in March 56 This horn was found 

where the explosion took place 16 th Novr 55. S.Henning Capt 88 th Regt.’ 

Seven arrows featured at bottom of cup. 

Purchased 1941 from Mr HC Abbott QVM 1985.H.23 

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. 


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 C G Ryan QVM 1985.H.26 

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. 


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. 


Jawbone, Part 

Decorated half jaw bone of whale with 10 teeth. Portrait of a naked man 

being eaten by a vulture. 


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. 




Right Angle Measuring Square 

Carved whalebone with Masonic Lodge logo on one side and ‘??D’ on the 

reverse. 


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. 


Fid/Club 

Carved whalebone tool for separating rope strands. Six rings engraved 

around top. 


Tool, Splicing 

Carved whalebone tool for splicing rope. 










Serving Mallet 

Carved whalebone. 


Boat builder’s Chisel 

Carved whalebone 


Seam Rubber 

Carved whalebone tool used by sailmakers in the manufacture of canvas 

sails. It smooths seams of sails after sewing. 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of Britannia crowning a woman with a laurel 

wreath. 




Whaletooth 

Polished whale tooth. 


Whaletooth 

Polished whale tooth. 


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. 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman possibly in Dutch costume with 

hand in pocket. 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman with three-quarter figure. Long 

hair. 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a man and woman holding hands. 




Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Image of a plant in a pot. 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whale tooth. Faint image of a house. 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a man riding a donkey. ‘ENGLAND’ 

inscribed on donkey. Man in striped trousers at rear of image. 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of woman in full-length dress and long hair. 




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 


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. 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman embracing a cupid. One of a 

pair to QVM 1985.H.65 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a bedraggled woman with bare feet. One 

of a pair to QVM 1985.H.64 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a man holding a letter. Bookcase and 



clock in background. One of a pair to QVM.1985.H.67 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman in a dress with three layers. One 

of a pair to QVM.1985.H.66 


Whaletooth 

Decorated whaletooth. Portrait of a woman lifting another woman from the 

water. One of a pair to QVM 1985.H.69 


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. 


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. 


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. 


Stand, Egg Cup 

Made of carved whalebone and Tasmanian woods including blackwood and 

huon pine. Possibly made by Captain James Bayley (1823–1894). 


Spoon 

Carved whalebone. Used as a mustard spoon. 

Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.74a 

Spoon 


Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.74b 

Spoon 



Carved whalebone. Used as a salt spoon. 

Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.75a 

Spoon 


Beattie Collection QVM 1985.H.75b 

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. 


Pincushion 

Carved whalebone pincushion base. Decoration features two heart shapes 

beside one another. Top has teethed edge. Missing cushion for interior. 


Napkin Ring 

Carved whalebone highly polished circular ring. 


Napkin Ring 





Napkin Ring 



Spoon 



Game, part 

Carved whale tooth cylindrical in shape. Appears to be a dice thrower 

turned on a machine. Rings around interior and exterior. 


Model, Architect’s 

Whalebone and wood model. Base is wooden with carved whalebone fence 

at front. Model has three walls and two pillars at each end. 


Tusk 

Small polished tusk carved with eight sides. 


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 whalebone, whaletooth and metal. Clenched fist at top with 

scalloped metal cuff. Features dots inlaid on vertical stripes. Captain James 

Kelly (1791–1859) presented this walking stick to the Lady Franklin 

Museum in Hobart. Kelly was a whaling captain in southern Tasmania 

during the 19th century. 


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. 


Walking Stick 

Carved whalebone and baleen. Features black and white striped inlay with 

an octagonal head. 


Walking Stick 

Carved whalebone. Octagonal head featuring star with eight points on 

head. Provenanced to Rev. Robert Knopwood (1763–1838), Tasmania’s 

first chaplain. 


Walking Stick 

Carved whalebone. Two sections of diamond shape incisions heavily inlaid 



with nail heads. 


Walking Stick 

Carved whalebone and baleen. Octagonal head. 


Napkin Ring 

Carved whalebone highly polished circular ring. Engraved ‘KB’. 


Spinning Top 

Carved whalebone spinning top. 


Cane, part 

Carved turned whalebone. Decorative band with flowers around top. 


Spatula 

Carved whalebone spatula. 150mm length. 

Donation LT Moss, 1969 QVM 1985.H.103 

Cannon 

Carved whalebone example of a cannon. 




Tusk [Boar?] 

Polished and carved tusk. 


Cane, part 

Carved and decorated animal bone. Features decorative cross-hatching. 


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. 


Comb 

Carved whalebone. Used as a baby’s comb c. 1939. 

Donation Mr E Hogarth 1939 QVM 1985.H.0163 



Whaletooth 

Carved whaletooth. Faint image of man in armour with sword reading a 

letter. 


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.0051 

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. 


Spoon 

Carved whalebone spoon/spatula. 

QVM 2005.H.0046 

Corkscrew 

Brass and whalebone corkscrew. Handle is turned polished whalebone with 

incised lines. Barrel is threaded and made of brass. 

QVM 2005.H.0047 



Handle 

Animal bone handle. Would have been attached to walking stick. 

QVM 2005.H.0048 

Walking Stick 

Whalebone walking stick with cross-hatching. Octagonal head. 

QVM 2005.H.0050 


A late 20th century decorated piece of whaletooth by Christian Ahern 

depicting the Tamar boat, Ione. On reverse inscribed ‘Christian’ 



A late 20th century decorated piece of whale tooth by Christian Ahern 

depicting the Tamar boat, Nutmeg. On reverse inscribed 

‘NUTMEG/Christian’ Wire hook. 




UNDECORATED/UNCARVED/UNPOLISHED: 

Whaletooth 

Undecorated whaletooth. 


Whaletooth 

Undecorated whaletooth. Poor condition. Metal nail through centre at base. 


Whaletooth 



Whaletooth 



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. 


Bone 

Length of bone. Undecorated. 


Bone 

Length of bone. Appears to have been turned. Circular marks on base. 


Bone 

Length of bone. Cube shaped. 


Whaletooth 

Polished but undecorated whaletooth. (one of a pair with 1985.H.54) 

Purchase Mr A Sims 1970 QVM 1986.H.179 

Whaletooth 


Donation Mr Frank Smith 1997 QVM 2006.H.191

Scrimshaw Collection Guide - Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

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