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Which folk art objects were made from bone?
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Folk art
Rooster weather vane, sheet and wrought iron, American, 19th century; in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. 73.6 × 166.4 × 4.5 cm.
In the context of folk art, objects made from bone are primarily associated with the craft of scrimshaw.
Scrimshaw involves the decoration of bone or ivory—such as whale teeth or walrus tusks—with intricate, fanciful designs. Historically, these objects were created by whale fishermen who carved scenes into the material using tools like jackknives or sail needles, often emphasizing the carvings with black pigments like lampblack. Common subjects depicted on these bone objects include whaling ships, naval actions, floral bouquets, and various emblems. While the craft reached its peak between 1830 and 1850, it continues to be practiced by certain groups, including the Chukchi of Siberia and the Inuit of Siberia and Alaska.1