19th Century Scrimshaw Bodkin with Pointing Hand Jesus on cross toe nails painted too

toe nails painted too

located in an old cotton mill in North Adams

some animals (looking like cats to me) below

noticeable only when viewed exactly straight on

19th Century Scrimshaw Bodkin with Pointing Hand Jesus on cross toe nails painted tooAnother 19th century sailor whaler made bone bodkin with a hand at the opposite end, which I purchased from a longtime dealer of antique maritime objects. This a diminutive one, just a hair longer than 2 inches, which to me makes the carving of this pointing hand, whalebone I believe, seem all the more amazing. With nicely carved bands and stars characteristic of these, and a sharp point at the opposite end, useful for piercing fabric or pushing