Featured An etching in bone, maybe ivory?

Discussion in 'Art' started by Nathan Lindop, Jun 15, 2019.

  1. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    'Back' meaning the whiter places that show under the paper?

    upload_2019-6-15_10-59-29.png
     
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  2. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    The fact that there are so many in the same style (same lettering, faux cracks, black frames, etc.) makes me lean toward some factory (in China).
    The answer may lie in determining the material they are on. And as none appear to be in hand, we can't tell.
    If ivory, I would expect a piece that large to have some bow to the surface. these appear to be flat.

    I was looking specifically at the vertical lines to Napoleons left. The lines on the ops appear to skip, while those on the other appear more solid. If they are cracks, they would not disappear over time.
     
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  3. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    Some sort of copying is feeling about right to me -- just because I'm seeing less detail in the OPs piece than the other found online.

    It's like The Exact Same Drawing, Only Less So.
     
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  4. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Ah, I see, sorry. My proposal above I think is very plausible in explaining how they can be so much alike. OP's mention of back feeling like plaster adds a new wrinkle to the picture.
     
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  5. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Parchment paper, maybe. Not actual parchment, which is animal skin. OP's does a convincing job of looking like it was taken from a boring book, long ago. Not to say it definitely is.

    Interesting thought. Does fit with texture of back.

    I have shown these rowdies many times on the site. Belongs to me, definitely ivory, at least 6 inches across, perfectly flat back:

    Dancing_Putti_2C2.jpg

    Not scrimshaw, but shows how differently ivory can age:

    https://www.pinterest.com/cameotimescom/ivory-cameos-reliefs/portraits/
     
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  6. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

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  7. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

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  8. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

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  9. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    Full text here: http://cribbageboardcollectorssociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Fake-Scrimshaw-II.pdf

    "History Art USA: Orleans, MA (1999 catalog) ... history of their probable involvement at that time as distributor of Juratone products, the British manufacturer of 'Fakeshaw', is no longer available.
    At the present time, History Art USA specializes in reproduction scrimshaw made from a resin composite. All work is first hand engraved, then reproduced, using a cold casting technique."

     
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  10. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Well, learned (if I can remember it) the word 'scrimshandering'. There is a list of the names on fakes known to the author. There are 2 for Napoleon, one the portrait of him with his hand in his jacket, the other on a fake tooth, pose not specified. He has no entry for Josephine. If these are fakes, unknown to him.
     
  11. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    The link I posted was for Fakeshaw I, and the one Jivvy found was the second installment. Maybe he mentions them in there?
     
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  12. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    I think the one thing that we have established here is that there is not enough information to make a purchasing decision.

    Unless you don't care what the material is or how old it is.

    Or it's cheap.
     
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  13. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    A sound conclusion.
     
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  14. Nathan Lindop

    Nathan Lindop 1: “?” 2: “!”

    A fake! Damn. I was doubtful about them so much I needed some second opinions. Using old paper is seriously scary. That's the biggest thing people believe in.

    They're for sale on ebay.co.uk btw, where I found them here at this number. : 392313933998
     
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