Antique Sailor Made Scrimshawed Ruler and Presumed Busk Fragment slip painted pottery Signed on the bottom "Lapid

Signed on the bottom "Lapid Israel" and "D"

which is what I would do with it

1940s-early 50s

signed (incised) PAT on the underside

an early American set

Antique Sailor Made Scrimshawed Ruler and Presumed Busk Fragment slip painted pottery Signed on the bottom "LapidI'll never resist a handmade ruler, all the more so a sailor whaler made one, this one measuring seven inches. I found it along with what I believe is a fragment from a busk a common form for scrimshawing, to bring home to wives and sweethearts for use in corsets. The decoration on this one is minimal, but very fine, perhaps meant for a name to be engraved inside of it. Earlier than later 19th century New England I believe, lovely things. Ruler