Antique Double Sailor’s Valentine, circa 1880

Antique Double Sailor’s Valentine, circa 1880, a pair of handcrafted shell collages mounted in mahogany octagonal shadowboxes, hinged together and mounted with a clasp and a chain for hanging. This valentine features a heart and the message “Forget Me Not.”

The valentine is in great condition, but does of course have a few shells that have come loose over the past century and a half. The cases remain in great condition as well.

Each Measures: 9-1/8 in H x 9-1/8 in W

Victorians in the Age of Exploration and its accompanying Eclectic Movement embraced arts and crafts from around the world. Shell boxes are frequently seen, and even the odd shell diorama, shell constructed flower basket or bowl, or even a shell adorned piece of furniture. Much more elaborate and sophisticated, and prized, are the elaborate pictures made of various seashells mounted in a frame which became known as Sailor’s Valentines.

Originally made between 1830 and 1890, these “valentines” are composed of hundreds of small sea shells of various colors glued onto a backing in intricate symmetrical designs which often feature a centerpiece such as a compass rose or a heart, or a motto or sentimental message such as Love, Forget Me Not or Home Again spelt out in shells; the valentines are typically mounted in octagonal glazed cases varying from 8 to 20 inches in diameter, often hinged together as double cases.

These delightful pictures were brought home by sailor’s from a voyage at sea and given as presents to loved ones. It is easy to see how these gifts with their hearts and sentiments became known as “sailor’s valentines,” but the name is very misleading. Long presented and cherished as a sailor’s folk art, at least by dealers and collectors through the 20th Century, that myth was corrected by an article in the magazine Antiques in 1961, and most people now realize that these were not made by the sailors themselves but were purchased as souvenirs in the Caribbean and brought home by sailors as presents.

Most, if not all, of these objects were made on the island of Barbados, which was a very important seaport during this period. The main source for these shell pictures was the New Curiosity Shop, located in McGregor Street in Bridgetown, a popular shop where sailors would purchase souvenirs. It appears that the shop employed a large number of Barbadian women to make the valentines using local shells such as Barbados Keyhole Limpets and Rugose Slit Limpets ( both Fissurella barbadensis), the pelagic sea snails Janthinas (J. spp), and King Venus Clams (Lirophora paphia); none of these shells are from endangered species. Interestingly, the island women had a long tradition of creating beautiful designs from their local seashells, noted by visitors as far back as 1750. It is generally believed that the inspiration for the octagonal cases came from ship’s compass boxes.

Today, antique sailor’s valentines remain highly prized and are eagerly sought. They are valued for their beauty and intricate construction, as well as their nautical connotation. Original pieces are scarce and command a high price, so collector interest has also sparked a resurgence in sailor’s valentines as a contemporary folk art.