1880s Nautical Objects

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 These were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor’s voyage at sea and given to the sailor’s loved...

19th Century Folk-art Ship Diorama A highly decorative piece of English nautical folk art, in the form of a carved wooden ship displayed in a bespoke ...

Nineteenth Century wood ships pulley block from a sailing ship, with wood pulleys and rope wrapped hoisting hook. Quality relic. Look at rope work. Weig...

19th Century Folk Art drinking barrel Covered in wonderfully naïve hand painted detail, including what resembles two well-dressed French soldiers toasting a drink to one another....

Rare nineteenth century solid brass yacht binnacle with gimballed compass marked with the maker's name Whyte Thomson Companies of 96 Hope St, Glasgow. Compass is polished and lacquer...

Large Sailor's Valentine with Seashells, Barbados, West Indies, Circa 1885 The West Indian sailor’s valentine is of typical octagonal form with a glazed wood case with a compa...

19th century original whaling painting by Benjamin Russell (New Bedford: 1804 - 1885), circa 1880, an oil on board intimate seascape with Yankee whale boat approaching a sperm whale, with whale ship...

English solid brass ship’s bell from the “S.S. Venetian”. The engraved bell is mounted to the original mythical intertwined dolphin cast iron yoke and ...

Nautical oak frieze We are proud to offer a 19th century hand carved oak frieze covered in intricate nautical related detail. Depicting 2 dragon creatures at both ends, a mounted gl...

An amazing 19th century Votive copper sea vessel model We are proud to offer an amazing example of a 19th century French votive model, of a hand-crafted sea vessel. Scratch built with canvas sails, all copper sections, a repoussé decorative motif hull, working compass, bronze articulated gun, adjustable mast flag (this can be pulled to half or full mast), brass movable rudder, copper removeable stairs, adjustable wench and named Brouquier Germanuj across an etched copper plaque. All original paint still intact in sections and a wonderfully aged patination across all its surface. The bronze set of stairs that descend into the hull are wonderfully crafted. With 2 small copper lifeboats hanging of the side attached with brass chains. Two bronze anchors...

Exceptional German sailors tramp art casket, circa 1880 We are proud to offer an exceptionally fine sailors sweetheart tramp art casket. With inset mirrored panels showing anchors and heart, the top translated as “A token, keepsake”. 3 Phase coloring on the mirrored lettering, with a hidden draw at the front all wonderfully finished off with gold gilded painted sections. Constructed from old cigar boxes...

Silk mounted and embroidered portrait of a Schooner-Rigged Yacht, hand tied onto an oil on canvas Seascape, by Thomas Willis (Danish-American: circa 1850...