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...
Category
Early 1900s Folk Art Antique Caribbean Folk Art