Shell Nautical Objects

Antique Double Sailor's Valentine, mid to late 19th Century, a pair of handcrafted shell collages mounted in mahogany octagonal shadowboxes, hinged together and mounted with a clasp....

Good string of early 20th century shell money or currency from Africa. The shells have a warm patina and are attractively presented on a custom iron base. ...

Edwardian Shell Valentine- Anchor-shaped Diorama-Ships off Coast A large Edwardian shellwork diorama with bevelled glass in the form of an anchor. The diorama features a chromolitho...

Enchanting pair of 19th Century British Colonial sailors valentines handcrafted in exotic seashells ambitiously arranged around a convex lens displaying maritime images of a row boat...

Standout vintage sailors valentine handcrafted in white seashells meticulously composed in a "star" or a "ray of sun" motif with floral design borders....

French Caribbean Shellwork Pictures with Birds, Flowers and Maltese Cross, French Caribbean, Mid-19th Century The rectangular shellwork picture is within a deep wood frame and is gl...

19th Century Sailor's Valentine, circa 1870, a hand crafted double "sailor's valentine" shellwork picture featuring a central heart and the motto "From Barbados" within concentric ri...

Charming sailor's valentine ambitiously hand crafted with white seashell specimens in star form composition and presented under glass in an octagon shadow box by Authentic Models.

Double Sailor's Valentine of Sea Shells and Motto "Ever Thine", Barbados, West Indies, Circa 1885 A double sailor's valentine with Spanish Cedar box...

Lofty pair of sailor's valentines. One with a floral motif and one with a heart, both ambitiously handcrafted in exotic sea shells meticulously composed and presented under glass in ...

Double Sailor's Valentine with Large Anchor, Barbados Barbados, West Indies, Circa 1885 The double sailor's valentine from Barbados is formed within two hinged octagonal mahogany cases with the original loop clasp to the side. On the right side is a central oval design with the charming motto, "Forget Me Not" and on the left side a central heart shape all formed by different shells. Dimensions: 18 1/4 inches wide x 9 1/8 inches high x 2 3/4 inches deep (closed) Each side 9 1/8 inches x 9 1/8 inches x 1 1/4 inches deep open Reference: Sailors’ Valentines originated in the mid-1800s. The majority of Sailors’ Valentines came from the West Indies Island of Barbados, a Port of Call for American and English ships1. Sailors would buy or trade items for these nautical tokens as romantic gifts to take home to their loved ones during their long voyages at sea. Although Sailors’ valentines were made as early as the 1750s, they did not become popular until 1830s. The sailors’ valentine craze lasted until 1890, albeit some examples were made into the early 20th century. Sailors’ valentines are a form of shell craft, a type of mostly antique souvenir or sentimental gift made using large numbers of small seashells. 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...

Antique Edwardian Folk Art Sea Shell Decorated Wooden Stand, circa 1920, having a variety of North American periwinkles, moon snails, oysters, etc. ...