Featured An etching in bone, maybe ivory?

'Back' meaning the whiter places that show under the paper?

 

The fact that there are so many in the same style (same lettering, faux cracks, black frames, etc.) makes me lean toward some factory (in China).
The answer may lie in determining the material they are on. And as none appear to be in hand, we can't tell.
If ivory, I would expect a piece that large to have some bow to the surface. these appear to be flat.

I was looking specifically at the vertical lines to Napoleons left. The lines on the ops appear to skip, while those on the other appear more solid. If they are cracks, they would not disappear over time.

 

Some sort of copying is feeling about right to me -- just because I'm seeing less detail in the OPs piece than the other found online.

It's like The Exact Same Drawing, Only Less So.

 

Ah, I see, sorry. My proposal above I think is very plausible in explaining how they can be so much alike. OP's mention of back feeling like plaster adds a new wrinkle to the picture.

 

Parchment paper, maybe. Not actual parchment, which is animal skin. OP's does a convincing job of looking like it was taken from a boring book, long ago. Not to say it definitely is.

Interesting thought. Does fit with texture of back.

I have shown these rowdies many times on the site. Belongs to me, definitely ivory, at least 6 inches across, perfectly flat back:



Not scrimshaw, but shows how differently ivory can age:

https://www.pinterest.com/cameotimescom/ivory-cameos-reliefs/portraits/

 

Found one with the label still attached: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vtg-scrimshaw-redoubtable-ship-resin-1832869678

Described as "cast resin"

 

I meant actual parchment/animal skin. Old drum heads tear like that.

OK - they are using old manuscripts for backing, to give the appearance of age. Scoundrels.

 

Don't have time to read it now, but it should be of interest, and mentions Juratone Ltd.:
https://www.whalingmuseum.org/sites/default/files/pdf/KWM Monorgaph Series No 1_Fakeshaw.pdf

 

Full text here: http://cribbageboardcollectorssociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Fake-Scrimshaw-II.pdf

"History Art USA: Orleans, MA (1999 catalog) ... history of their probable involvement at that time as distributor of Juratone products, the British manufacturer of 'Fakeshaw', is no longer available.
At the present time, History Art USA specializes in reproduction scrimshaw made from a resin composite. All work is first hand engraved, then reproduced, using a cold casting technique."

 

Well, learned (if I can remember it) the word 'scrimshandering'. There is a list of the names on fakes known to the author. There are 2 for Napoleon, one the portrait of him with his hand in his jacket, the other on a fake tooth, pose not specified. He has no entry for Josephine. If these are fakes, unknown to him.

 

The link I posted was for Fakeshaw I, and the one Jivvy found was the second installment. Maybe he mentions them in there?

 

I think the one thing that we have established here is that there is not enough information to make a purchasing decision.

Unless you don't care what the material is or how old it is.

Or it's cheap.

 

A sound conclusion.

 

A fake! Damn. I was doubtful about them so much I needed some second opinions. Using old paper is seriously scary. That's the biggest thing people believe in.

They're for sale on ebay.co.uk btw, where I found them here at this number. : 392313933998