Most well known as the work of whalers, sailors and hunters, scrimshaw is the art of carving and/or etching on bone and shell. The complex legal limitations on the use of elephant and whale ivory, tortoise shell and other materials vary by state and country and are subject to change. I do not use any of these materials. I create my pieces by hand on domesticated water buffalo, cow and lamb bone, Tagua nut- "vegetable ivory", shell, and plastic. I do not work with antiques, ivory, tusk, horn or teeth.