This lovely item has carvings all over and a wheel that spins. Adorning the piece is a hand, a star, and a snake. What is it?

At first glance, this ornate carved object may look like a decorative curiosity, but it is actually a scrimshaw jagging wheel, also known as a pie crimper or pastry crimping wheel.

Name: Scrimshaw jagging wheel / pie crimper
Period: Most commonly associated with the 18th and 19th centuries, especially the great age of American and European whaling.
Main use: It was used to decorate and seal the edges of pie crusts and pastries.

A jagging wheel worked in a simple but clever way. The small wheel at the end was rolled along the edge of dough, leaving a patterned, crimped border. This helped seal the crust and also made the pie look more attractive. In a time when pies were a common part of daily meals, a well-made pie crimper was both practical and decorative.

What makes this example special is the material and craftsmanship. Scrimshaw refers to carving or engraving done by sailors, often on whale bone, whale ivory, walrus ivory, or other marine animal bone. During long voyages, sailors had many idle hours at sea, and some used that time to create detailed objects by hand. These pieces were often made as gifts for wives, sweethearts, or family members back home.

This jagging wheel is especially striking because it is not just a kitchen tool. It is also a piece of folk art. The carved handle, curved shapes, and decorative wheel show the patience and skill of the maker. Items like this remind us that everyday household tools in earlier centuries could also carry deep personal meaning.

For American readers, this object connects several parts of history: whaling culture, sailor craftsmanship, home cooking, and handmade domestic tools. It tells a story of a time when a sailor might return from sea not with a store-bought present, but with something carefully carved by hand.

In short, this is a scrimshaw jagging wheel — a historic pie crimper, likely from the 18th or 19th century, used to decorate pie crusts and probably made by a sailor as a meaningful handmade gift.