Transfering images to a horn

[Grumpa]

Rick, I can't remember a specific source for that information, but I would have come across it in museum presentations (New Bedford Whaling Museum -?)
and books/articles read when I was doing sea shanties and reading up on sailors' life. It was more than a one-time reference.

Just found this on line - National Museum of American History "Fishing for a Living 1840 - 1920" "Passing The Time At Sea" - "During their idle hours, whalemen produced scrimshaw for family members, sweethearts, and friends....Some whalemen sketched their designs freehand, but more often they copied or traced drawings from popular publications. The subjects often included whaling ships and details of the whale hunt, racy images of women, patriotic motifs, and idealized images of home and family."
americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater/exhibition/3_7.html

I remember seeing examples of ships, patriotic renditions of spread-winged eagles, whales and the hunt, etc. And more than one period illustration that corresponded to the scrimshaw work on the tooth, or horn beside it.

Richard

 

[tenngun]

My hats off to them that do it, my own drawing ability is not as good as my spelling or typing.
Personally I don't think an original drawing should be copied. Much originals seem to have been dodals, but our modern drawings and dodals look different then the past. Freehanding a passable 19th or 18th century "American primitive" would be a talent all on its own. Doing something that's not a copy runs the risk of looking far out of time. I have seen a lot of modern horns that are works of art, and nothing is wrong with them on an hc outfit, but it is easy to see its not a 200 year old drawing style.

 

[Grumpa]

These were lonely, homesick, lovesick men at sea for years. They were making keepsakes for loved ones, (or themselves). They took inspiration from the illustrations, most of which were not Currier & Ives quality lithographs, but simple drawings that would serve as decorations in a periodical ( a spread eagle on a masthead), or a drawing illustrating a story.

The last thing on their minds was copyright. And their finished scrimshaw would not have been seen as "infringement". From the pin outline through to the finished work, they would have made it "their own". And they were working from contemporary illustrations, a bit different from us working from an old, period illustration.

For many of them, their artistic ability was akin to your spelling and typing ability :grin: which is what gave their scrimshaw (and your writing) much of its appeal. :thumbsup:

Richard

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

Jim Stevens describes several ways of transferring an image to a horn in his book:
http://www.logcabinshop.com/catalog.php?path=&product_id=80956


I am not sure about relaying the information in a forum, as it seems like the methods transcend common knowledge, and go into copyrighted information.

Somebody let me know if I am wrong here and I will post his favorite method.

 

[omarick1948]

I bought that book when it came out a few years ago, but was very disappointed. Too pricy for what it is in my opinion. JMO

Yes on copy right infringement unless given permission by author.

Rick

 

[Rifleman1776]

not as good as my spelling or typing.

NOT AS GOOD??? :shocked2: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[Katahdin]

Draw it free hand,,look at some of the originals,,they sure don't look like any animal I ever see.Draw it,redraw it, erase what you have, draw some more,Depends on what you want,In future someone to look at some work and say,"Oh that is a copy by you of someone elses' work" or say distinctive style most assured htrednecks style and work..What ever you do it will probably not look like the original,, just close,,,,