Busk, stay busk, scrimshaw

This whalebone corset or stay busk was probably etched and decorated by a sailor on a whaling ship as a gift to his loved one. This art form, known as pictorial scrimshaw began in the early 19th century as a leisure activity for whalers who were often at sea for up to four years. Traditionally the whalers used sailing needles to etch decorations and inscribe messages on walrus tusks, whale teeth and bones and then fill in the scratches made on the ivory and bone with black ink. Stay busks were inserted into the front of stays or corsets fo flatten the wearer's stomach. As well as restricting movement they could also cause the distortion and damage of internal organs.