Fig.1: Click on Photo to Enlarge
Fig. 1
A French Scrimshaw Ivory and Ebony Desk, dated Paris 1882, and sold by Meubles Hertenstein, 10 Rue de Charonne. 
The piece is signed “garne le 12 juin 1882, A. M.” Conserved, with select restoration of damaged plates, and a newly etched replacement for a missing plate (see Fig.2). This piece, a disaster when it was taken in (see Fig.3), was the property of Countess Sylvia Szapary of the Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island. Photo by Stuart Simons.
Fig. 2: Click on Photo to Enlarge
Fig. 2
This is a replacement ivory scrimshaw panel made by W. Maliszewski. Photo by Stuart Simons.
Fig. 3: Click on Photo to Enlarge
Fig. 3
Showing two corner sections of the enormous damage general to the piece, before restoration. Each corner reveals the reason for the breakage of the ivory tiles; the substrate wood had shrunk due to unfavorable humidity conditions (near the salt sea air) causing the ivory to rip. The entire top of ivory and ebony had to be removed, restored, and carefully laid back after the substrate condition was corrected.
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