Scrimshaw has always evoked the romance and mystique of the great age of sail. The combination of idle hours and the desire for artistic expression resulted in many wonderful pieces of scrimshaw by sailors. Martha Lawrence covers every facet of the art of scrimshaw, from it origins, to the daily life of the scrimshander, to the materials, themes, and tools used in creating these objects. Complete with over 400 illustrations, collectors and modern scrimshaw artists will find this book a joy to read.