19th C. Scrimshawed Bone Cup, Anchor and Flags dominion of canada and throughout the condition of

and throughout the condition of paper is good and clean

It is the relative crudeness and immediacy of the carving that make it wonderful to me (and that face

and I expected it to be Asian

and with a wooden lid and base

with legs partially opened for balance (balancing its a bit more precious when legs are tightly closed

19th C. Scrimshawed Bone Cup, Anchor and Flags dominion of canada and throughout the condition ofI believe this was made as a spirit cup and dates to the Civil War era, based on a few others I have turned up that are similar. And I believe it is French flags that are cross the anchor at center, with finials evoking the fleur de lys representing the French navy. Likely made by a sailor aboard a ship, and, despite a rim chip on one side, quite a lovely thing, which would make a great dice cup now. 2 1 2" t x 1 3 4." Chip to the rim as documented