The Last of the Whale Tooth Carvers

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  • čas přidán 28. 08. 2016
  • One of America's last scrimshanders carves elegant designs onto antique whale teeth, forging a unique connection to New England's formative and violent whaling past. Our friends at Jungles in Paris bring us this story from Nantucket.
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Komentáře • 302

  • @247sapphire
    @247sapphire Před 7 lety +170

    this channel is such a gem, exploring the overlooked crafts and beauties of our world. I would have never learned about this if it weren't for this channel.

    • @FxBrour
      @FxBrour Před 6 lety

      So you didn´t know people used to carve whale teeth? It is not really a secret normally you learn stuff like that in history class, I would go as far as saying it is common knowledge.

    • @AlexanderTheEepy
      @AlexanderTheEepy Před 5 lety

      Corvin Caassimolar ok

    • @bluelemonade277
      @bluelemonade277 Před 3 lety

      and now.... its finished...

    • @gingertorres9356
      @gingertorres9356 Před 3 lety

      Ye and it helps with 2020

  • @AltarenGalil
    @AltarenGalil Před 7 lety +209

    This makes me want to play Dishonored so bad

    • @sirdougieaudio
      @sirdougieaudio Před 7 lety +1

      Jan Šinkovec Yes🤘

    • @salmonfish1145
      @salmonfish1145 Před 7 lety +1

      Jan Šinkovec What has dishonored got to do with Whale Tooth Carving?

    • @AltarenGalil
      @AltarenGalil Před 7 lety +9

      Salmon Fish the runes in the game are carved whale bones.

    • @salmonfish1145
      @salmonfish1145 Před 7 lety +1

      Jan Šinkovec Ohhhhhh

    • @Eisaku2
      @Eisaku2 Před 6 lety +2

      And uhh.. pretty much their entire society revolved around whaling, whale oil, etc.

  • @Zattack19
    @Zattack19 Před 8 lety +478

    I'm not sure how it really is from my limited viewpoint but it always seems like the old crafts like these are dying out slowly. Weird part is I know people who would love to try stuff like black smithing or the older arts. And when I say older arts, I mean not in the paintbrush and canvas I mean in metalworking,pottery,jewelry, art forms that had both a use and beauty to them. Not sure if this is the actual case but when I see something like this, it confirms my thoughts.

    • @feralredhead1169
      @feralredhead1169 Před 8 lety +3

      Do you watch A Craftsmans Legacy? Go on their website to watch full episodes, and I agree 100 % with you. ✌🏽️

    • @kawaiinati
      @kawaiinati Před 7 lety +1

      NorthScorpion it's sad but sadly there is hardly a market for this art. You would be waisting your time making something no one asks for or would want to buy. Buying and making is also very expensive

    • @d.a.hansen9142
      @d.a.hansen9142 Před 6 lety +6

      My parents are both metalsmiths, three of my grandparents are metalsmiths, my uncle is a metalsmith, and my brother is being trained to enter the field. It's true that there aren't nearly as many craftspeople now as there were a century or two ago, but we still exist.

    • @potato511
      @potato511 Před 6 lety

      Maybe they're just evolving, it is important to remember your history.

    • @adirtyhippy
      @adirtyhippy Před 6 lety +2

      my friend started woodworking and hes doing well, since its a dying trade. alot of people appreciate something hand made, not made by a machine.

  • @mohammadpravio637
    @mohammadpravio637 Před 7 lety +55

    The intro looks likes dark souls opening

    • @mhm3905
      @mhm3905 Před 3 lety

      Oh my god you are right

  • @JohnSmith-xq6cv
    @JohnSmith-xq6cv Před 7 lety +84

    Most underrated Chanel on CZcams

    • @FxBrour
      @FxBrour Před 6 lety +3

      I know its really Gucci

  • @Exucuted
    @Exucuted Před 6 lety +7

    *Ah thats good scrimshaw*

  • @currenwiggin8982
    @currenwiggin8982 Před 5 lety +5

    I’m so happy they did a video on Nantucket. I’ve lived here my whole life and I love the channel even more now.

  • @sinclairdino1780
    @sinclairdino1780 Před 8 lety +66

    I've actually been in that shop on Nantucket

    • @edog1o163
      @edog1o163 Před 6 lety +2

      wow you must be amazing

  • @larryvienneau
    @larryvienneau Před 3 lety +4

    those 223 negative comments just show ignorance. We both started as teen agers, I moved and learned other arts, Mike stayed on Nantucket and continued, I am very proud of my Brother for keeping this artform alive

  • @Brawp
    @Brawp Před 6 lety +9

    Mmm that’s good scrimshaw, lost sons of New Bedford.

  • @asciiavatar
    @asciiavatar Před rokem +2

    My uncle, Robert Weiss, was a scrimshander for 20+ years living in New England, and was known for his incredibly detailed portraits.

  • @wernerheisenberg44
    @wernerheisenberg44 Před 7 lety +20

    There are some very good scrimshaw craftsmen in South Africa, too!

  • @fatimaisra9143
    @fatimaisra9143 Před 7 lety +6

    THIS IS MORE ENTERTAING THAN A MOVIE !

  • @MurderBong
    @MurderBong Před 6 lety +4

    I WANT THAT OLD GUY TO READ ME A BED TIME STORY

  • @paulj9174
    @paulj9174 Před 6 lety +8

    The quality of this video...amazing

  • @ilikebutterflies1383
    @ilikebutterflies1383 Před 6 lety +2

    Oh, whales have teeths ,i've never knew that was the kind of teeth that whales have

  • @z9173
    @z9173 Před 6 lety +4

    we must continue this art

  • @garydrungleston
    @garydrungleston Před 6 lety

    This is by far the most well made doc on the channel.

  • @anta2413
    @anta2413 Před 6 lety +2

    super atmospheric for a video about a dying art form, good job GBS!

  • @ludwigjonsson9139
    @ludwigjonsson9139 Před 7 lety +5

    Ahhhh, brave men all, lost sons of new bedford. That's good scrimshaw.

  • @pancakehistorian4677
    @pancakehistorian4677 Před 6 lety +2

    Little did great big story know in New Zealand tones of Maori still carve necklaces and art into whale bone

  • @Patrick-cy2zh
    @Patrick-cy2zh Před 8 lety +237

    What the hell was the guy in the beginning even saying

    • @gluemuncher1986
      @gluemuncher1986 Před 7 lety

      😂

    • @divinemoments5344
      @divinemoments5344 Před 7 lety +117

      The vast swells of the omnipotent sea; the surging, hollow roar they made, as they rolled along the eight gunwales, like gigantic bowls in a boundless bowling-green...
      It's a fragment of 'Moby Dick' of course...

    • @stupidmovies85
      @stupidmovies85 Před 7 lety +24

      I believe that was from Moby Dick, and my beliefs were confirmed by another commenter. Such a wonderful novel, it can be quite boring in the beginning, but gets very interesting.

    • @ankandhara9700
      @ankandhara9700 Před 6 lety

      Just increase the playback speed and wala! 😂

    • @tikitoki4298
      @tikitoki4298 Před 6 lety +1

      Pat rick e

  • @mirafloralfonso5765
    @mirafloralfonso5765 Před 6 lety

    I cant stop watching the videos of this channel

  • @koma-san2692
    @koma-san2692 Před 3 lety +1

    This documentary is pure gold ❣️🇵🇭

  • @EseCuate562
    @EseCuate562 Před 7 lety +2

    Great Video! Only wish it were longer

  • @classiclaughproductions9547

    Beautifully shown very heart thouching

  • @jacobpacheco3165
    @jacobpacheco3165 Před 2 lety +2

    If there's one thing I love about living on the coast of Massachusetts it's the deep maritime history

  • @raliixaviero4674
    @raliixaviero4674 Před 6 lety +2

    Holy shoot the cinematography is immersing👏🏻

  • @8izzy
    @8izzy Před 6 lety +15

    I would love to do this for a living but my mom would kick me out of the house since "I need to become a doctor"

    • @dedude6784
      @dedude6784 Před 6 lety +2

      some type of k-pop trash my parents want me to be a lawyer but I'm not heartless

  • @dongdynamics
    @dongdynamics Před 8 lety +90

    I wanna buy one of those now

    • @nickiminajstan9363
      @nickiminajstan9363 Před 6 lety +3

      Stop do you really need it. These whales are beautiful and the more you promote it the more these murderers will kill. Think about it do you really need it. People like them and you are killing these marvellous generation of species.
      🐋😢

    • @augustinenguyen6703
      @augustinenguyen6703 Před 6 lety +17

      Victor Bui bro, these whales were killed decades, maybe centuries ago when whaling was at its height.

    • @cumvertgoose2600
      @cumvertgoose2600 Před 6 lety +9

      Victor Bui dude its not like some one goes out of their way to kill the whales... they wash ashore then they make beautiful art out of their remains. Please check before you make statements like these to diminish their dying craft

    • @FxBrour
      @FxBrour Před 6 lety +1

      when we truly don´t want to kill whales anymore it is only natural that this craft is slowly dying. But the killing of whales still goes on and how are you supposed to know where your whale tooth comes from. Overall we could make carvings in the bones of far less precious animals (Cows or pigs) or non animal material for example wood. Romanticising a time wher both Humans and whales died on these horrifying hunts is not really sensible at all. Some traditions just have to slowly die in todays world.

    • @suntzu3541
      @suntzu3541 Před 6 lety

      Its still supply/demand. No demand no need to supply. Most countries have banned whaling. Only really Japan does it under the guise of 'research'.

  • @TheCrazycuber
    @TheCrazycuber Před 8 lety +7

    this is sooo weird i was just watching in the heart of the sea on HBOGO and then i log on to CZcams and see this video and i was amazed by the coincidence

    • @gunmath6115
      @gunmath6115 Před 6 lety +1

      TheCrazycuber it's cause CZcams listens to everything around you

    • @trcmf
      @trcmf Před 6 lety +1

      Don’t be amazed. Big Data knows everything you do in the digital world and feed you such.

  • @geekeduponad
    @geekeduponad Před 7 lety +5

    Hmmmmm thats good scrimsaw

  • @FreterP
    @FreterP Před 6 lety +1

    Most of the people in the comments here don't realize that the teeth used for scrimshanding in this video are actually hundreds of years old. If you were to practice this art on the tooth of a whale that was just recently caught that would very much be illegal. The only states that still allow whale catching are Japan and Norway, not the U.S.

  • @greatsea6782
    @greatsea6782 Před 6 lety +2

    Whats up with the "horror" music?
    It doesn't fit the video, there is nothing SCARY here.

  • @zeezas1241
    @zeezas1241 Před 6 lety

    Incredible!

  • @timskza
    @timskza Před 8 lety +22

    Doesn't the narrators voice in the beginning sound like Lillian from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt?

  • @HJ-di1bo
    @HJ-di1bo Před 7 lety +2

    I watched the movie version of Moby Dick. I'm surprised to know this vanishing art existed.

  • @rakamamend666
    @rakamamend666 Před 3 lety

    I wonder if it could be scalling teeth also?

  • @ahmedshaharyarejaz9886
    @ahmedshaharyarejaz9886 Před rokem +1

    Scrimshaw should replace Whale-teeth with Cattle Bones for carving similar to how Ivory has been replaced by Camel Bone and Buffalo bone in India and the Middle-East.

  • @auntjemima1631
    @auntjemima1631 Před 7 lety +1

    magical

  • @dipolararc4848
    @dipolararc4848 Před 5 lety

    I want to know the orchestra music 2:20

  • @shay4492
    @shay4492 Před 7 lety +1

    Okay seriously now this makes me not want to go to school

  • @smaugtheimpenetrable8009

    I cant tell if this is a trailer

  • @piekazkout1620
    @piekazkout1620 Před 7 lety +1

    holy shit this is beautiful

  • @Tramikins
    @Tramikins Před 8 lety +3

    When you just finished watching heart of the sea then see this on CZcams

    • @Kkoso
      @Kkoso Před 7 lety

      DIY Monster same

  • @monkeydo992
    @monkeydo992 Před 6 lety +1

    THEN WHAT WILL MAUI USE?

  • @AI-tc8fv
    @AI-tc8fv Před 5 lety +1

    That's good scrimshaw

  • @miguelruben6092
    @miguelruben6092 Před 3 lety

    Where can I get a tooth lmk wanna make a necklace till I die

  • @frydemwingz
    @frydemwingz Před 3 lety

    until they showed the guy, I thought that was Mama Murphy talking.

  • @crasy4lifes
    @crasy4lifes Před 6 lety

    exept native people of Vladistok has been doing it since the 12 century with whaletusks.

  • @crisrose9707
    @crisrose9707 Před 6 lety +1

    yes but how can i get in without killing anyone? should i blink to the rooftop or try and parkour round the back?

    • @MisterCOM
      @MisterCOM Před 6 lety +1

      cris rose killing anyone?

    • @crisrose9707
      @crisrose9707 Před 6 lety

      it was a reference to a video game called dishonoured which is based in a city known for its whaling industry. you play as the queens protector gone assassin who need to take out the corrupt higher ups who killed the queen to gain control. there is always an option of not killing anyone as is usually harder to do since everybody in your way is still in your way if you dont kill them.

  • @ratio6368
    @ratio6368 Před 8 lety +1

    Wow :O

  • @Laz2074
    @Laz2074 Před 6 lety +2

    This profession is dying. I wish people would keep it alive simply because it is a historical art form. As long as people didn't go whaling for teeth to carve I would not mind. I would even partake in the act of scrimshaw.

  • @AshleighLeighanne
    @AshleighLeighanne Před 7 lety +5

    I wanna keep the dying cultures alive...

  • @zoeyjoziee8885
    @zoeyjoziee8885 Před 6 lety

    *_Blood and Thunder by Mastadon plays_*

  • @thomastheawesome4822
    @thomastheawesome4822 Před 6 lety +1

    3:23

  • @whalebone1206
    @whalebone1206 Před 3 lety

    Interesting

  • @gracepeters1450
    @gracepeters1450 Před 7 lety +5

    How is it the only original American art form?

    • @laughextremelyloudly6337
      @laughextremelyloudly6337 Před 6 lety +3

      No he said U.S. he meant the only original form of art work from the country. Besides, name a form of art that the American Indians developed that was (truly) original (as in never done before).

  • @pmhoorah1429
    @pmhoorah1429 Před 4 lety

    Dude at the beginning sounds like mamma murfey

  • @gabbys7163
    @gabbys7163 Před 5 lety

    Hi

  • @NintendoSushi
    @NintendoSushi Před 6 lety

    the beginning sounds like the godfather

  • @playonce4186
    @playonce4186 Před 6 lety +2

    lol at the and the female was an old mab

  • @vishnuraj7627
    @vishnuraj7627 Před 3 lety

    The last toot carver

  • @Dragonwing16
    @Dragonwing16 Před 6 lety +1

    this is impressive and all, but how can he even say the only art form native to the united states? that's...just a lie, not only in carving, but music, dance and many other things. Like WTF

  • @blindragelol
    @blindragelol Před 8 lety +177

    I wonder how many whales were killed over the time :(

    • @dingdingdingding5544
      @dingdingdingding5544 Před 8 lety +20

      So its fine to kill humans and pigs along with other animals just not whales?

    • @palomaharper2810
      @palomaharper2810 Před 7 lety +25

      +YouCan'tHateMeMoreThaniHateMyslef i don't think they said that anywhere in their comment

    • @dingdingdingding5544
      @dingdingdingding5544 Před 7 lety +12

      +Paloma Harper I'm just saying who gives a fuck about whales?

    • @palomaharper2810
      @palomaharper2810 Před 7 lety +3

      YouCan'tHateMeMoreThaniHateMyslef Ok

    • @1337fraggzb00N
      @1337fraggzb00N Před 7 lety +20

      There are still millions of whales out there. Nowadays they dye their hair blue and yell about patriarchy.

  • @grahmmo8595
    @grahmmo8595 Před rokem

    I just bought a few fossilized sperm whale teeth they are such magnificent creatures

  • @jerrydmoore1233
    @jerrydmoore1233 Před rokem

    brave men all lost sons of New Bedford. thats good scrimshaw

  • @paulodonnell6389
    @paulodonnell6389 Před 11 měsíci

    Mmmmm that’s good scrimshaw

  • @shrinivasmandre5003
    @shrinivasmandre5003 Před 6 lety

    Killing Wales to kill get the tooth is not an honour

  • @pengoslowpo
    @pengoslowpo Před 6 lety

    Why do whales need teeth anyways they eat stuff like plankton

  • @willywonka2164
    @willywonka2164 Před rokem

    Found a sperm whale tooth in my grandmas attic today. Didn’t know what scrimshaw was.
    Wonder if one of these old timers could be commissioned to do a piece on it. From what I’ve learned, it’s been in my family since long before 1972. I have no desire to sell it. Just would be a cool piece of history.

  • @keelanwalker
    @keelanwalker Před 5 lety +3

    I couldn't help but notice that the artist made the comment that this is the only indigenous American art form. Does Native American art not qualify as an indigenous art form?

  • @OwensLifts
    @OwensLifts Před 3 lety

    3:07 i have one just like that and im 11...

  • @thomasdykstra100
    @thomasdykstra100 Před 6 měsíci

    Things bought with blood are are generally overpriced...

  • @ediblerubber
    @ediblerubber Před 6 lety +1

    Listen to 2:25 with your eyes closed

  • @TheZenguitarguy
    @TheZenguitarguy Před 6 lety

    Umnnn Jazz is an original American art form?

  • @vey_4227
    @vey_4227 Před 6 lety

    Is this a great story or a scary story😨

  • @lgych
    @lgych Před 7 lety +41

    I knew it. whenever there's some kind to video regarding killing animals people just immediately go like UMMM #ANIMALABUSE. don't tell me that UR not thinking that way OF COURSE YOU ARE

    • @Tennantphile
      @Tennantphile Před 6 lety +2

      Actually no.

    • @FxBrour
      @FxBrour Před 6 lety +4

      I know how strange, anytime I talk about killing my neighbour people always call me Murderer. Fucking PC culture!!!

  • @creamacid9417
    @creamacid9417 Před 6 lety

    Why whales what did they do to you?

    • @bernardosantos8020
      @bernardosantos8020 Před 3 lety +1

      The teeth are from beached whales. It’s why their so expensive now. Many people actually use synthetic whale’s teeth nowadays

  • @unitedstatesdale
    @unitedstatesdale Před 6 lety

    I always wanted to get a whale harpoon and run it into a whale hunters gut . Then drag them around with so they know what it feels like.

    • @laughextremelyloudly6337
      @laughextremelyloudly6337 Před 6 lety +5

      But that would be murder... as where the whalers where killing the animal with purpose (i.e. oil and meat). Also whales weren't killed for their teeth. Rather scrimshaw arose because there was no use for the teeth (commercially speaking).

  • @turuff7114
    @turuff7114 Před 2 lety

    Meanwhile in NZ 🤭 iykyk

  • @metheekriengparinyakij1700

    : (

  • @mariocastaneda6518
    @mariocastaneda6518 Před 4 lety

    I'm in 2020

  • @michaeljordan3302
    @michaeljordan3302 Před 7 lety +16

    BTW, whale tastes great!

    • @roosk1423
      @roosk1423 Před 7 lety

      cepters you've tried it?

    • @kimberly8096
      @kimberly8096 Před 7 lety +1

      I did, it's pretty fucked up.
      But my asian family's culture actually eats them

    • @qqqqqq8014
      @qqqqqq8014 Před 6 lety

      cepters ~cough~ Nice drama starter ~cough~

  • @user-mb7gb4qt5e
    @user-mb7gb4qt5e Před 6 lety

    Kill the whales- eric andre (anybody get the reference?)

  • @barryirlandi4217
    @barryirlandi4217 Před 8 lety +180

    The only art form indigenous to the US! Thats a bit thick... Yes, I know he means to the White Americans.. But still the Natives had art form long before you guys turned up..

    • @SG-bp4lg
      @SG-bp4lg Před 8 lety +77

      They said art indigenous to the US. As in the United States of America. Not just America.

    • @shabut
      @shabut Před 8 lety +10

      That had been done prior to any natives every coming to the North American continent. What art form did Native Americans do that hadn't been done prior?

    • @thomasjefferies8845
      @thomasjefferies8845 Před 8 lety +21

      The United States wasn't founded by native Americans mate.
      America wasn't a uniform state/country before the Europeans showed up, just a bunch of undeveloped tribes warring with eachother over small bits of land.

    • @griffinwolanicki2293
      @griffinwolanicki2293 Před 8 lety

      +Asmund Stendahl yup

    • @nicrso
      @nicrso Před 7 lety +3

      Yeah we TURNED UP alright

  • @Eraisho
    @Eraisho Před 6 lety

    I personally as an animal lover dont like seeing animals getting killed for no reason..... only for display now i'm starting to think humanity is slowly killing everything.. again my OPINION

    • @wishfulwoomy9159
      @wishfulwoomy9159 Před 6 lety +1

      TheRandom EasiGirl, all of the teeth used are from beached whales who died of natural causes or whales killed over a hundred years ago when whaling wasn’t illegal.

  • @hkiyr
    @hkiyr Před 7 lety

    All the dishonored feels

  • @natsuki3758
    @natsuki3758 Před 5 lety

    cry for whales

  • @devikakaul1494
    @devikakaul1494 Před 3 lety +1

    Most art forms unfortunately are exploitative of Nature even as these ironically represent the beautiful intense link between Nature and people.
    Same is true of fashion throughout the world!

  • @Jasongy827
    @Jasongy827 Před 6 lety

    Great video, I definitely want to spend a couple of hours bored books into this. I’m against killing animals such as whaling, or sheep hunting compare to hugs and their fur.

  • @jagjitroudh9894
    @jagjitroudh9894 Před 6 lety +1

    Only art form indigenous to the US?! Uhh... How about jazz? Americans... You guys try so hard to forget your history.

    • @bernardosantos8020
      @bernardosantos8020 Před 3 lety

      Scrimshaw is a form of art, and so is music. Jazz is a subgenre of art. Do you see where I’m going with this?

  • @uzielmora1467
    @uzielmora1467 Před 6 lety

    Quick someone speak whale

  • @kylehazachode
    @kylehazachode Před 8 lety

    why the reupload?

  • @michellebao6495
    @michellebao6495 Před 7 lety +16

    and native american art isnt indigenous to the america?? hm

  • @gyo._535
    @gyo._535 Před 4 lety

    peta will cancell them instantly

  • @himdotcom
    @himdotcom Před 5 lety

    Indigenous to the *U.S.*, people! Are you even listening?

  • @cmbaz1140
    @cmbaz1140 Před 6 lety

    Am i the only one to realize the irony of this craftsmanship going extinct...
    Really...

  • @jitsumoreno
    @jitsumoreno Před 6 lety

    Great to hear this is going the way of the dodo.

  • @gabychuels2955
    @gabychuels2955 Před 6 lety

    Im trippin and this was a great watch