Another Puzzle for Latitude Nation Readers To Solve

Here’s a cute and interesting new puzzle for our sleuthing readers to solve. Well, not actually a “puzzle” as such, but a question of its origins, what it’s made of, and, for good measure, what kind of bird this item is meant to represent.

Reader John Dukat presented us with the photos and the information he does have.

“One of our members passed away recently, and among the donated items was this ivory carving.

“At first I thought it was an albatross, then shifted over to a tropicbird. But the gizz isn’t right for either -— particularly the bill.

— It seems too crude for an Alaskan carving
— It’s unlike any Pacific Islands carvings from an internet search
— Maybe good old scrimshaw from a whaler (but it has a clasp on the flat bottom)

“Do any readers have any idea of the provenance?”

Off the top of our heads, we have no idea of the bird’s origins, what it’s made of, or what type of bird it might be.

Our race editor Christine Weaver pondered the idea of its being an Alaskan or Canadian carving. It certainly looks as if it could fit with some of their artistry.

John Dukat is continuing to look for answers, and wonders if it could be ivory, or perhaps another “version” of scrimshaw.

“Still doing research and found this …” John writes. “There are a lot of mass-produced plastic replicas made to look like scrimshaw. Or in the words of the New Bedford Whaling Museum curators, ‘Fakeshaw.’ Though they are leaning toward its being ivory, not a plastic replica.

What do you think? Has anyone seen this bird or similar items, and does anyone have a good way to distinguish ivory from a good plastic? Let us know.

You can read more about “Fakeshaw” in the Kendall Whaling Museum’s “Fakeshaw: A Checklist of Plastic ‘Scrimshaw.'”