19th Century Scrimshaw Bodkin with Pointing Hand American art pottery Graphite on ledger paper

Graphite on ledger paper

snake-like circular and square coils interrupting the horizontal ones

miniature ones especially

13 inches long overall x 3/8" wide and deep

the masterful textile artist who created this “Eyelash Scarf

19th Century Scrimshaw Bodkin with Pointing Hand American art pottery Graphite on ledger paperAnother 19th century sailor whaler made bone bodkin with a hand at the opposite end, which I purchased from a longtime dealer of antique maritime objects. This a diminutive one, just a hair longer than 2 inches, which to me makes the carving of this pointing hand, whalebone I believe, seem all the more amazing. With nicely carved bands and stars characteristic of these, and a sharp point at the opposite end, useful for piercing fabric or pushing