Cats and dragons were my biggest sellers, not only, I think because they were popular[1] but also because I really enjoyed doing them:) They're both graceful animals, with fun patterns (fur, stripes, scales, spines.)
17x34x3mm (on right). Lampblack ink on walrus ivory. Tungsten carbide tipped tool. Late 80s?
I quite often liked to depict the dragons climbing, if I drew them on a narrow piece of ivory. Though no two were exactly alike, they had a recognizable look, as you can see from this ancient scan of a photo:
This image goes back to the website's earliest days, which is one reason it's so awful. But you get the basic sense of the dragon design.
photo, file 14jan10. Intro 22jan10
[1]I used to sell a lot of my scrimshaw at the Renaissance Faire, and one of my friends complained that a) her husband had an easier time selling it than she did even though she was more articulate and knowledgeable and b) people assumed that a man did it. This no doubt came out of the fact that once upon a time men—whalers—were the main practioners, but I'd say on what is granted very anecdotal evidence that women scrimshanderers outnumbered the men by at least 2:1.
Unless otherwise noted, text, image and objects depicted therein copyright 1996--present sylvus tarn.
