The Last of the Whale Tooth Carvers

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  • Опубликовано: 28 авг 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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Комментарии • 302

  • @247sapphire
    @247sapphire 7 лет назад +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 6 лет назад

      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 5 лет назад

      Corvin Caassimolar ok

    • @bluelemonade277
      @bluelemonade277 3 года назад

      and now.... its finished...

    • @gingertorres9356
      @gingertorres9356 3 года назад

      Ye and it helps with 2020

  • @AltarenGalil
    @AltarenGalil 7 лет назад +209

    This makes me want to play Dishonored so bad

    • @sirdougieaudio
      @sirdougieaudio 7 лет назад +1

      Jan Šinkovec Yes🤘

    • @salmonfish1145
      @salmonfish1145 7 лет назад +1

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

    • @AltarenGalil
      @AltarenGalil 7 лет назад +9

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

    • @salmonfish1145
      @salmonfish1145 7 лет назад +1

      Jan Šinkovec Ohhhhhh

    • @Eisaku2
      @Eisaku2 6 лет назад +2

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

  • @Zattack19
    @Zattack19 7 лет назад +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 7 лет назад +3

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

    • @kawaiinati
      @kawaiinati 7 лет назад +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 6 лет назад +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 6 лет назад

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

    • @adirtyhippy
      @adirtyhippy 6 лет назад +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 7 лет назад +55

    The intro looks likes dark souls opening

    • @mhm3905
      @mhm3905 3 года назад

      Oh my god you are right

  • @JohnSmith-xq6cv
    @JohnSmith-xq6cv 7 лет назад +84

    Most underrated Chanel on RUclips

    • @FxBrour
      @FxBrour 6 лет назад +3

      I know its really Gucci

  • @Exucuted
    @Exucuted 6 лет назад +6

    *Ah thats good scrimshaw*

  • @currenwiggin8982
    @currenwiggin8982 5 лет назад +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.

  • @larryvienneau
    @larryvienneau 3 года назад +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

  • @sinclairdino1780
    @sinclairdino1780 7 лет назад +66

    I've actually been in that shop on Nantucket

    • @edog1o163
      @edog1o163 6 лет назад +2

      wow you must be amazing

  • @wernerheisenberg44
    @wernerheisenberg44 7 лет назад +20

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

  • @Brawp
    @Brawp 6 лет назад +8

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

  • @asciiavatar
    @asciiavatar Год назад +2

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

  • @fatimaisra9143
    @fatimaisra9143 7 лет назад +6

    THIS IS MORE ENTERTAING THAN A MOVIE !

  • @paulj9174
    @paulj9174 6 лет назад +8

    The quality of this video...amazing

  • @ludwigjonsson9139
    @ludwigjonsson9139 7 лет назад +5

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

  • @z9173
    @z9173 6 лет назад +4

    we must continue this art

  • @koma-san2692
    @koma-san2692 3 года назад +1

    This documentary is pure gold ❣️🇵🇭

  • @ilikebutterflies1383
    @ilikebutterflies1383 6 лет назад +2

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

  • @anta2413
    @anta2413 6 лет назад +2

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

  • @garydrungleston
    @garydrungleston 6 лет назад

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

  • @mirafloralfonso5765
    @mirafloralfonso5765 6 лет назад

    I cant stop watching the videos of this channel

  • @classiclaughproductions9547
    @classiclaughproductions9547 7 лет назад +1

    Beautifully shown very heart thouching

  • @EseCuate562
    @EseCuate562 7 лет назад +2

    Great Video! Only wish it were longer

  • @Patrick-cy2zh
    @Patrick-cy2zh 7 лет назад +237

    What the hell was the guy in the beginning even saying

    • @gluemuncher1986
      @gluemuncher1986 7 лет назад

      😂

    • @divinemoments5344
      @divinemoments5344 7 лет назад +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 7 лет назад +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 6 лет назад

      Just increase the playback speed and wala! 😂

    • @tikitoki4298
      @tikitoki4298 6 лет назад +1

      Pat rick e

  • @MurderBong
    @MurderBong 6 лет назад +4

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

  • @raliixaviero4674
    @raliixaviero4674 6 лет назад +2

    Holy shoot the cinematography is immersing👏🏻

  • @pancakehistorian4677
    @pancakehistorian4677 6 лет назад +2

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

  • @zeezas1241
    @zeezas1241 6 лет назад

    Incredible!

  • @TheCrazycuber
    @TheCrazycuber 7 лет назад +7

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

    • @gunmath6115
      @gunmath6115 6 лет назад +1

      TheCrazycuber it's cause RUclips listens to everything around you

    • @trcmf
      @trcmf 6 лет назад +1

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

  • @auntjemima1631
    @auntjemima1631 7 лет назад +1

    magical

  • @dongdynamics
    @dongdynamics 7 лет назад +90

    I wanna buy one of those now

    • @nickiminajstan9363
      @nickiminajstan9363 6 лет назад +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 6 лет назад +17

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

    • @cumvertgoose2600
      @cumvertgoose2600 6 лет назад +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 6 лет назад +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 6 лет назад

      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'.

  • @comeintomyvan4827
    @comeintomyvan4827 6 лет назад +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 6 лет назад +2

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

  • @jacobpacheco3165
    @jacobpacheco3165 2 года назад +2

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

  • @geekeduponad
    @geekeduponad 7 лет назад +5

    Hmmmmm thats good scrimsaw

  • @AI-tc8fv
    @AI-tc8fv 5 лет назад +1

    That's good scrimshaw

  • @piekazkout1620
    @piekazkout1620 6 лет назад +1

    holy shit this is beautiful

  • @rakamamend666
    @rakamamend666 3 года назад

    I wonder if it could be scalling teeth also?

  • @HJ-di1bo
    @HJ-di1bo 7 лет назад +2

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

  • @whalebone1206
    @whalebone1206 3 года назад

    Interesting

  • @FreterP
    @FreterP 6 лет назад +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.

  • @timskza
    @timskza 7 лет назад +22

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

  • @ratio6368
    @ratio6368 7 лет назад +1

    Wow :O

  • @shay4492
    @shay4492 7 лет назад +1

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

  • @zoeyjoziee8885
    @zoeyjoziee8885 6 лет назад

    *_Blood and Thunder by Mastadon plays_*

  • @monkeydo992
    @monkeydo992 6 лет назад +1

    THEN WHAT WILL MAUI USE?

  • @ahmedshaharyarejaz9886
    @ahmedshaharyarejaz9886 Год назад +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.

  • @dipolararc4848
    @dipolararc4848 5 лет назад

    I want to know the orchestra music 2:20

  • @smaugtheimpenetrable8009
    @smaugtheimpenetrable8009 6 лет назад

    I cant tell if this is a trailer

  • @Tramikins
    @Tramikins 7 лет назад +3

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

    • @Kkoso
      @Kkoso 7 лет назад

      DIY Monster same

  • @greatsea6782
    @greatsea6782 6 лет назад +2

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

  • @crasy4lifes
    @crasy4lifes 6 лет назад

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

  • @gabbys7163
    @gabbys7163 5 лет назад

    Hi

  • @vishnuraj7627
    @vishnuraj7627 3 года назад

    The last toot carver

  • @crisrose9707
    @crisrose9707 6 лет назад +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 6 лет назад +1

      cris rose killing anyone?

    • @crisrose9707
      @crisrose9707 6 лет назад

      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.

  • @miguelruben6092
    @miguelruben6092 3 года назад

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

  • @paulodonnell6389
    @paulodonnell6389 10 месяцев назад

    Mmmmm that’s good scrimshaw

  • @pmhoorah1429
    @pmhoorah1429 4 года назад

    Dude at the beginning sounds like mamma murfey

  • @frydemwingz
    @frydemwingz 3 года назад

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

  • @NintendoSushi
    @NintendoSushi 6 лет назад

    the beginning sounds like the godfather

  • @OwensLifts
    @OwensLifts 3 года назад

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

  • @blindragelol
    @blindragelol 7 лет назад +177

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

    • @dingdingdingding5544
      @dingdingdingding5544 7 лет назад +20

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

    • @palomaharper2810
      @palomaharper2810 7 лет назад +25

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

    • @dingdingdingding5544
      @dingdingdingding5544 7 лет назад +12

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

    • @palomaharper2810
      @palomaharper2810 7 лет назад +3

      YouCan'tHateMeMoreThaniHateMyslef Ok

    • @1337fraggzb00N
      @1337fraggzb00N 7 лет назад +20

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

  • @keelanwalker
    @keelanwalker 5 лет назад +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?

  • @Laz2074
    @Laz2074 6 лет назад +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.

  • @ediblerubber
    @ediblerubber 6 лет назад +1

    Listen to 2:25 with your eyes closed

  • @thomastheawesome4822
    @thomastheawesome4822 6 лет назад +1

    3:23

  • @playonce4186
    @playonce4186 6 лет назад +2

    lol at the and the female was an old mab

  • @jerrydmoore1233
    @jerrydmoore1233 Год назад

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

  • @gracepeters1450
    @gracepeters1450 6 лет назад +5

    How is it the only original American art form?

    • @laughextremelyloudly6337
      @laughextremelyloudly6337 6 лет назад +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).

  • @vey_4227
    @vey_4227 6 лет назад

    Is this a great story or a scary story😨

  • @willywonka2164
    @willywonka2164 Год назад

    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.

  • @elizabethli5209
    @elizabethli5209 7 лет назад +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 6 лет назад +2

      Actually no.

    • @FxBrour
      @FxBrour 6 лет назад +4

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

  • @grahmmo8595
    @grahmmo8595 Год назад

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

  • @Dragonwing16
    @Dragonwing16 6 лет назад +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

  • @thomasdykstra100
    @thomasdykstra100 5 месяцев назад

    Things bought with blood are are generally overpriced...

  • @AshleighLeighanne
    @AshleighLeighanne 7 лет назад +5

    I wanna keep the dying cultures alive...

  • @TheZenguitarguy
    @TheZenguitarguy 6 лет назад

    Umnnn Jazz is an original American art form?

  • @turuff7114
    @turuff7114 2 года назад

    Meanwhile in NZ 🤭 iykyk

  • @mariocastaneda6518
    @mariocastaneda6518 4 года назад

    I'm in 2020

  • @shrinivasmandre5003
    @shrinivasmandre5003 6 лет назад

    Killing Wales to kill get the tooth is not an honour

  • @creamacid9417
    @creamacid9417 6 лет назад

    Why whales what did they do to you?

    • @bernardosantos8020
      @bernardosantos8020 3 года назад +1

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

  • @pengoslowpo
    @pengoslowpo 6 лет назад

    Why do whales need teeth anyways they eat stuff like plankton

  • @michaeljordan3302
    @michaeljordan3302 7 лет назад +16

    BTW, whale tastes great!

    • @roosk1423
      @roosk1423 7 лет назад

      cepters you've tried it?

    • @kimberly8096
      @kimberly8096 7 лет назад +1

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

    • @qqqqqq8014
      @qqqqqq8014 6 лет назад

      cepters ~cough~ Nice drama starter ~cough~

  • @unitedstatesdale
    @unitedstatesdale 6 лет назад

    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 6 лет назад +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).

  • @hkiyr
    @hkiyr 7 лет назад

    All the dishonored feels

  • @kylehazachode
    @kylehazachode 7 лет назад

    why the reupload?

  • @metheekriengparinyakij1700
    @metheekriengparinyakij1700 6 лет назад

    : (

  • @Jasongy827
    @Jasongy827 6 лет назад

    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.

  • @devikakaul1494
    @devikakaul1494 3 года назад +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!

  • @Eraisho
    @Eraisho 6 лет назад

    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 5 лет назад +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.

  • @barryirlandi4217
    @barryirlandi4217 7 лет назад +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 7 лет назад +77

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

    • @shabut
      @shabut 7 лет назад +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 7 лет назад +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 7 лет назад

      +Asmund Stendahl yup

    • @nicrso
      @nicrso 7 лет назад +3

      Yeah we TURNED UP alright

  • @jitsumoreno
    @jitsumoreno 6 лет назад

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

  • @natsuki3758
    @natsuki3758 4 года назад

    cry for whales

  • @gabychuels2955
    @gabychuels2955 6 лет назад

    Im trippin and this was a great watch

  • @user-mb7gb4qt5e
    @user-mb7gb4qt5e 6 лет назад

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

  • @nadiaidris2017
    @nadiaidris2017 7 лет назад +5

    poor whales

  • @uzielmora1467
    @uzielmora1467 6 лет назад

    Quick someone speak whale

  • @gyo._535
    @gyo._535 4 года назад

    peta will cancell them instantly

  • @classic4624
    @classic4624 6 лет назад

    “Whale tooth craving” pfffft that was so last century.

  • @cmbaz1140
    @cmbaz1140 6 лет назад

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

  • @eddiecortes8960
    @eddiecortes8960 7 лет назад

    I though healed didn't have teeth