How much is scrimshaw whale tooth worth?

Scrimshaw whale teeth prices range from $1,200 to $11,000. A signed Susan’s tooth by Frederick Myrick can fetch over $50.000 at auction. Some pieces even with a simple design sell for a few hundred dollars. Authentic, period scrimshaw is definitely getting harder and harder to find.

Is whale scrimshaw legal?

19th and 20th century scrimshaw, scrimshaw crafted before 1989 (elephant) or before 1973 (sperm whale ivory, walrus ivory etc.) is legal. It is prohibited after that year for commercial import in the U.S. under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Can you sell scrimshaw?

Under the Endangered Species Act, any scrimshaw item that can be proved to be 100 or more years old can be sold interstate; any other item cannot. Reproductions, copies and fake scrimshaw items often can fool the novice.

How can you tell if a whale tooth is real?

Genuine ivory has a definite “grain,” whereas plastic will probably be smooth and featureless. Compare the engraved lines to any age cracks in the tooth. Genuine teeth, as they age, will tend to develop small cracks running the long direction of the tooth.

Is it illegal to own a whale tooth?

“It’s illegal for someone to go and yank the tooth out of a dead marine mammal,” Behtash said. “It’s illegal to possess or sell marine mammal parts of any kind, unless you have a permit.”

Can you sell scrimshaw on Ebay?

You cannot sell: the following Ivory items; Canes, Jewelry, Chess Pieces or sets, Figurines, Scrimshaw, this includes Netsukes etc. You cannot sell anything made from Whalebone or any other marine animal regardless of when it was harvested.

Is it legal to own a whale tooth?

Sperm whales are protected by the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. “It’s illegal for someone to go and yank the tooth out of a dead marine mammal,” Behtash said. “It’s illegal to possess or sell marine mammal parts of any kind, unless you have a permit.”

Is scrimshaw jewelry valuable?

Some collectors consider scrimshaw to only include pieces made of whale ivory carved by American or European whalers during the nineteenth century. Consequently, these pieces are most valuable.

Can I sell whale teeth?

“Sperm whale teeth can weigh over two pounds each and are alluring to many collectors. The Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act protect sperm whales and, among other things, prohibits their parts from being sold in interstate or foreign commerce or imported into the United States without a permit.

Is it illegal to sell ivory in the US?

On July 6, 2016, a near-total ban on commercial trade in African elephant ivory went into effect in the United States. We’ve implemented this near-total ban to ensure that U.S. domestic markets do not contribute to the decline of elephants in the wild. Learn more.