Scrimshaw is the name given to scrollwork, engravings, and carvings done in bone or ivory. The word Scrimshaw was probably derived from a Dutch or English nautical slang expression meaning “to waste time.” Typically it refers to the handiwork created by whalers made from the byproducts of harvesting marine mammals. It is most commonly made out of the bones and teeth of sperm whales, the baleen of other whales, and the tusks of walruses. It takes the form of elaborate engravings in the form of pictures and lettering on the surface of the bone or tooth, with the engraving highlighted using a pigment, or, less often, small sculptures made from the same material. However the latter really fall into the categories of ivory carving, for all carved teeth and tusks, or bone carving. The making of scrimshaw began on whaling ships between 1745 to 1759 on the Pacific Ocean, and survived until the ban on commercial whaling. The practice survives as a hobby and as a trade for commercial artisans.
This small, elegantly shaped box is a very refined example of scrimshaw. The color of the ivory presents warm-yellow shades, the depth of the engraving is lightly increased, if we compare it to the elongated horn-shaped scrimshaws. The depth employed in the engraving allows the creation of very intense effects of shading and plastic naturalism. The scene features a feminine figure depicted in a very intimate moment. We can observe some details of the clothing that well represent the fashion trend of the time.