Sailor’s Shell Valentine
in Octagonal Case
Presented is a lovely Sailor’s Shell Valentine with a romantic inscription on the back of the case. These treasured and pleasing artistic pieces have become a highly desired addition to nautical folk-art collections and decor.
Dimensions: 10 1/2″Wide
2″ Depth
2 lbs. 2 oz. Wt.
It reads:
“On tropical shores the world wide,
A myriad of shells wash out of the brine
Resting on beaches at low tide
Just the thing for completing this Valentine
Price: $1750.00 Shipping: $55.00
These were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor’s voyage at sea and given to the sailor’s loved one or loved ones. Although the name seems to suggest that the sailors themselves made these objects, a large number of them originated on the island of Barbados, which was an important seaport during this period. Historians believe that the women in Barbados made the valentines using local shells, or in some cases, using shells imported from far east and then the finished products were sold to the sailors. (Wikipedia)
The Sailor’s Valentine are a form of shell craft, a type of mostly antique souvenir, or sentimental gift made using large numbers of small shells. Sailor’s valentines are typically octagonal, glass-fronted, sometimes hinged wooden boxes in width, displaying intricate symmetrical designs composed entirely of small seashells of various colors glued onto a backing.
