Bajan Folk Art

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....

Antique Double Sailor's Valentine, dated 1903, a pair of handcrafted shell collages mounted in mahogany octagonal shadowboxes, hinged together and mounted with a clasp. This valentine features a heart and the inscription "Barbados, 1903." 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, though there is a little looseness to the frame backboards. 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...

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...

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...

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 These were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor’s voyage at sea and given to the sailor’s loved...

A 19th century sailor's shell valentine of typical octagonal form, the glazed case enclosing a geometric pattern of various shells within colored card ...

A rare mid 19th century Sailor’s Valentine mounted as a table in a wrought iron frame. These octagonal shadow boxes, hinged together and fitted with glass panes, displayed elaborate ...

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...

Sailor's double shell valentine, Barbados, West Indies The West Indian sailor's valentine is of typical octagonal shape with two sides, hinged in ...

Sailor's double valentine with compass rose and heart, Barbados, West Indies, circa 1885. The sailor's valentine with a central heart design to one s...

Large double Sailor's Valentine with motto "Love as Deep as The Ocean", Barbados, West Indes, circa 1885. The large sailor's valentine with a red surround and a central heart de...

A double sailor's valentine, arranged multi-color shells in a hinged octagonal wooden case with heart and circular shaped motifs. One side of case exterior is unfinished, Meas...