A beautiful piece of skrimshaw

[tamrock]

The thrift store treasure hunts have been rather dry recently, but that's how it goes. Today my eye came across this wonderful piece of art. Didn't take my long to run down this Japanese artist Yoko Gaydos

Yoko Gaydos Artist Biography - Scrimshaw Collector

Yoko Gaydos Scrimshaw Artist Biography - Scrimshaw Collector

www.scrimshawcollector.com

a female artist who creates wonderful maritime scenes on old walrus ivory this appears to be?. I haven't run down the two ships that looked to be engaged in a battle. One flies a British flag and the other is the flag of the USA. The total with tax cost $14.11 and it measures 5-3/8" x 3-1/2"

 

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[tamrock]

I believe the depiction on this to be the capture of the East India Company ship Nautilus by the USS ship Peacock.

Capture of East India Company ship Nautilus - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Red-Coat]

I believe the depiction on this to be the capture of the East India Company ship Nautilus by the USS ship Peacock.

Capture of East India Company ship Nautilus - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

That’s beautifully done and an absolute steal at that price!

I don’t think its Nautilus vs USS Peacock though. The British ship is flying the naval Red Ensign (left, below) not the striped flag of the East India Company (right, below in the British version used from 1801 onwards).



Also, from the number and arrangement of the gunports, it looks to be a 40-gun frigate, whereas Nautilus was a 14-gun brig. I believe it’s an ‘Endymion Class’ frigate, of which only six were built and only one saw notable action against the American Navy during the war of 1812: HMS Endymion herself. She engaged the USS President on 15 January 1815 to prevent her breaking out of New York Harbour and I think that’s probably what the engraving depicts.

Both ships were significantly damaged but USS President was crippled to the extent that she was forced to surrender. The British ceased fire but HMS Endymion didn’t have enough undamaged boats for a boarding party. Despite having struck her colours, USS President then tried to sneak off while HMS Endymion was undergoing repairs. HMS Endymion gave chase, joined by other ships of the British squadron and USS President was captured a few days later.

Not the only possibility, but my best guess. Depends somewhat on how historically accurate the ship depictions might be. There are numerous such engravings, paintings etc which take liberties with ship configurations, paint livery and flags.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

That is a beautiful piece of scrimshaw, a friend of mines Father owned a scrimshaw shop in my hometown that was my first introduction to the art style and he did a lot on bone and horns so I supplied him with a lot I found while hunting and hiking.

 

[tamrock]

Thank you RC. Indeed I find scrimshaw work very unique BOTB. I got to reading on the trade of fossil ivory, which it is legal to deal in and it seems there are only limited sources of this material throughout the world.

 

[HistoryTeacher]

Wow! That is a beautiful find. If I found it, I think that would have to go in my personal collection.

 

[tamrock]

Wow! That is a beautiful find. If I found it, I think that would have to go in my personal collection.

Yeah I haven't been doing any online selling in maybe 3 years now, but I can't stop looking for the way under valued treasures in flea markets and thrift stores, so with that I'm thinking I've just become a collector of these things I find.

 

[UnderMiner]

Great score!!

 

[pepperj]

Yeah I haven't been doing any online selling in maybe 3 years now, but I can't stop looking for the way under valued treasures in flea markets and thrift stores, so with that I'm thinking I've just become a collector of these things I find.

Certainly under valued on this piece. Congrats on the purchase.