It’s the eighteenth century, and your sailor sweetheart has just given you what is called a “busk valentine”. What is it?
A) A kiss B) A piece of decorated whale-bone ü C) A song in which the singer vows fidelity D) A trinket from a far-off place
Your busk valentine is not only beautiful, incised with images or designs, but can also be put to good use as a stiffener in your corset! A busk is a piece of wood or bone that fits into a pocket in a corset and keeps it rigid. The nautical art of etching bone is called scrimshaw, and those who do it are called scrimshanders.
