David Warther Carvings & Gifts

David Warther carves in his on-site workshop every day creating his intricate artwork of antique ivory, ebony wood and abalone pearl. The exhibit now displays 95 of his fascinating miniature carvings where guided tours run continuously. David is a local but nationally recognized artist whose life’s project is to carve the story of the sailing ship from the ancient Egyptian world to modern times. He has been working on this artistic and highly educational project for 48 years.

The modern 10,000 square foot exhibit features 5 rooms of carvings with each room being dedicated to different eras of shipbuilding. The Medieval room with its Viking ships is a favorite among visitors as is the Ancient room where ancient Egyptian, Roman, Phoenician and Greek ships convey the story, in David's beautiful art form, of how ships appeared in these early times.

The beauty of each carving is enhanced with delicate hand etching and engraving known as scrimshaw. To achieve this effect, Warther scores fine lines in the antique ivory with a hand stylus. Later, when ink is applied to the surface, the microscopic pores in the ivory absorb the ink while the polished areas remain white. By using this technique the intricate details of each carving comes to life, from planking to doors and windows.

David visits with each group in the workshop area of the exhibit. Here he shows you and your family how he makes the rigging lines of his ships from ivory using a hand filing and sanding technique. The rigging lines measure 7/1000th of an inch in diameter – twice the diameter of a human hair.

The gift shop at the DWC handles unique items and is best known for carrying the full line of Warther kitchen knives that are made in our factory just 11 miles from the store. The DWC is a must see art exhibit and the gift shop at the DWC, by itself, has become a popular area attraction that can be visited separately.

David Warther Carvings is an enjoyable place to visit for every member of the family, any season of the year. Our hilltop portico and clock tower pavilion just outside our building provide exceptional views and photo options of our neighboring Amish farms in Walnut Valley.