About Us

In business for better than 35 years, Nina Hellman and her husband, Bob have maintained a year round open shop on the Island of Nantucket since 1983. She is the author of A Mariner’s Fancy The Whaleman’s Art of Scrimshaw and was the guest curator for a scrimshaw exhibit at the South Street Seaport Muesem. Bob Hellman is an authority on historic American whaling, particularly the tools of the trade. They have both been guest lecturers on various aspects of whaling and scrimshaw at several institutions and meetings. A trustee of the Nantucket Historical Association, Nina serves as an advisor to several maritime museums. Together they have been instrumental in building numerous private collections.