
An Extraordinary Stop on Your Nantucket Visit.
Adorned with the image of a leather punch, the carved wooden sign outside the door leaves no ambiguity about the nature of this shop. As you walk in, the first thing you notice is the rich, musky smell of cowhide. Then, your eyes fixate on illuminated display cases featuring curiously intricate, nautical-themed items, belt buckles, cufflinks, money clips, and more. You've arrived at Craftmasters of Nantucket.
Craftmasters is one of the oldest shops on the island, featuring one-of-a-kind scrimshaw pieces crafted by some of the few remaining master scrimshanders still working today. Using premium prehistoric Wooly Mammoth ivory and oil-based paints, our scrimshanders create timeless, heirloom-quality pieces that make fine collectibles as well as distinctive gifts. Beyond a unique selection of scrimshaw gifts and accessories, Craftmasters offers:
- Leather specialty goods (coats, bags, wallets, belts, planners)
- Men's footwear
- Sterling silver and 14K gold jewelry
- Collectibles by American artisans
- Exquisite hand-blown glass
Our part in scrimshaw history
Although David Masters had always dabbled in art, he found his true calling in 1973 after trying his hand at leather etching and engraving. David loved the blend of precision and creativity and soon made a natural segue into scrimshaw. He opened Craftmasters in 1976 to share his artistry and vision with the world.
The attention to detail and passion inherent in David's earliest pieces are still evident today. As a longtime Nantucket resident, he drew inspiration from all around him - the sea, nature, and history. Each scrimshaw piece was painstakingly handcrafted by David on-site, and many more are done today by some of the best scrimshanders in the country. He was the only scrimshander on the island to infuse color into his work, using an 1800s-era technique of rubbing oil paints into the etched design, which has been adopted by modern-day scrimshanders today.
Today his son Philip Masters continues in his fathers footsteps as the new owner of the shop, and has become one of the few remaining scrimshanders left in the country. Philip's dedication to the shop will further Craftmasters goal of providing the highest quality goods to anyone in need. We have just passed 50 years and are planning at least another 50.