19th Century Scrimshaw Bodkin with Pointing Hand lattice like the angel on one

like the angel on one shoulder in a cartoon

and small losses to the red fabric here and there

The "N" shows some misshaping/tearing to the steel along the short side top edge

These are tops in all regards

so was delighted to find this one this weekend

19th Century Scrimshaw Bodkin with Pointing Hand lattice like the angel on oneAnother 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