Thread: Carved Sea Otter

Sure looks contented!! Nice find!!

You want to make it more realistic and drill his nostrils out a bit.Then you can sniff the duist and see if it's HP!!

Don't think its Huon, take a few more close ups (that are in focus ) and it may become clear. Colour
is similar but the grain doesn't look quite right but like I said another couple of pics might help.

Great carving!

No idea of the carver, I think that very few participate in carving forums.
Can you ask at a carving club? The maker might have a substantial reputation.

If I didn't know better (and I don't), my first guess was Yellow Cedar, a prized
carving wood from the Pacific Northwest (Chamycyparis nootkatensis).
The color and texture looks so much like my Frog Pie.

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

No idea of the carver, I think that very few participate in carving forums.
Can you ask at a carving club? The maker might have a substantial reputation.

If I didn't know better (and I don't), my first guess was Yellow Cedar, a prized
carving wood from the Pacific Northwest (Chamycyparis nootkatensis).
The color and texture looks so much like my Frog Pie.

It looks somewhat like huon and as it says JW Australia on the bottom I made the assumption that it was Huon. I bow to those with more knowledge than I though. Of course the subject matter is more Canadian than Australian!

I've attached more photos of the otter which, hopefully, show more grain detail.

One other question, it was dirty when I got it so I gently washed it with a soft toothbrush and soap. It's now much lighter in colour but is also a little 'dull'. I definitely don't want to varnish/shellac it - it's a very tactile piece - and feel that wax would be too 'heavy'. That leaves oil, but which oil? Any suggestions welcomed.

Incidentally while washing it I floated it in the water and it floated just like a sea otter, beautifully balanced.\

That last batch of picture, I say it is of the Mahogany family.

I'm having second thoughts. When Otters lie on the surface, they curl their tails up
between their hind legs.
That suggests to me that the carver might not be entirely familiar with these perky little critters.
BTW, they float like corks. At night, the roll into the kelp fronds to keep from drifting away.
They will bring up a rock, roll on their backs and bash the seafood shell open.
They are carnivores like Orca.
Whatever. I have a piece of real mahogany. There is a Sea Otter dish in it. Maybe I get to it.

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

I'm having second thoughts. When Otters lie on the surface, they curl their tails up
between their hind legs.
That suggests to me that the carver might not be entirely familiar with these perky little critters.
BTW, they float like corks. At night, the roll into the kelp fronds to keep from drifting away.
They will bring up a rock, roll on their backs and bash the seafood shell open.
They are carnivores like Orca.
Whatever. I have a piece of real mahogany. There is a Sea Otter dish in it. Maybe I get to it.

Before you start carving you might want to check: I think you'll find that the tail is held straight out and used, like a rudder, for balance.

No it's not Huon, more likely some good quality Pacific Maple or something like that (if its Aust timber). How hard is it? The darker bits I think
would be pretty hard but the light coloured areas you could probably get a thumb nail in. He's beautifully carved, very clean (carved I mean not your scrub job) Oil, something light like Camellia oil.

Tail position: in photos, I see some of both, mostly extended.
I guess I've seen far too many sea otter carvings done by Pacific Northwest native carvers.
As bowls/dishes, the tail is often curved up but as 2D artwork, extended.

Whoever JW is/was, they are very good. Good enough to have what looks like a press-printed label.

Question: are there no kelp forests and sea otters anywhere around OZ?

Plenty of kelp forests but no Otters

Thanks, CH. For the life of me, I cannot remember. Long time gone.
Sea Otters are really perky, comical players.
They eat all kinds of critters, like sea urchins, which chew off the kelp bases.
I have lived inland, 10+ hrs from tidewater, for far too long.