Featured Little pill box with scrimshaw on lid.

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by 916Bulldogs123, Apr 1, 2023.

  1. 916Bulldogs123

    916Bulldogs123 Well-Known Member

    Hi all,
    Any thoughts on who and when on this little 1 1/2" diameter spring hinge pill box.
    Mikey
    100_8841.JPG 100_8847.JPG 100_8848.JPG 100_8850.JPG 100_8854.JPG
     
  2. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    It's cute, and sweet, not thinking too old.....last image - looks like a 'B' just off the scrimshaw in the "silver"? Proportion-wise, the fella standing there might be Paul Bunyan???:joyful::) Did you test for silver?? Or is there a mark for silver I didn't see?? And I can't tell if he's furling or unfurling a sail.....or maybe just adjusting.....but looking tied up to a dock, or nearly tied up wouldn't make sense either.....OK, shut up, Aqui!!!
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2023
    Gus Tuason and Any Jewelry like this.
  3. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Ditto.
    It doesn't look like silver to me.
     
  4. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    The back reminds me of 80s jewelry.
     
  5. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    Any, I was thinking it was VERY shiny!!!!
     
  6. baltojoe75

    baltojoe75 Well-Known Member

    somewhere I have a money clip with that same "scrimshaw" plaque. I have seen a keyring and a brooch as well. I think it's 80's as well.
     
  7. 916Bulldogs123

    916Bulldogs123 Well-Known Member

    Not silver. Just very shiny silver tone.
    I see two people on a dock waiting or watching the ship go by?
    Mikey
     
    Aquitaine likes this.
  8. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    Stylistically, reminds me a whole lot of items usually "signed" with the name "Nuguruk" or sometimes Nunuk. Those signatures indicate products of a Seattle jewelry store, dating back to the late 1920s up to the late 1970s; they hired non-natives to apply standardized designs to real ivory; sold through the Bon and such. Those were non-native, but on real ivory.
    No apparent signature here, but the style sure looks like those.
     
    Bakersgma and 916Bulldogs123 like this.
  9. 916Bulldogs123

    916Bulldogs123 Well-Known Member

  10. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    Article, link appears safe: Nuguruk: Eskimo Ivory? - EcommerceBytes

    Most often, Nuguruk items are listed on ebay and elsewhere as "Eskimo" - they are not.
    Nuguruk image search: nuguruk - Bing images

    There is a flatness to the Nuguruk-signed scrimshaw, with all lines having the same thickness, that sets them apart from most actual scrimshaw whether by natives or non-natives.
    Not saying this item either is or is not of this type, but just raising the possibility.
     
    916Bulldogs123 likes this.
  11. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    I can't see this as ivory. It's a good fake, but the surface texture puts me off:

    upload_2023-4-3_17-15-58.png

    Also can't see real ivory set in a base metal box when really good fakes, e.g., Celluloid, are available.
     
    916Bulldogs123 likes this.
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