Central American Furniture

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 These were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor’s voyage at sea and given to the sailor’s loved...

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 ...

Caribbean mahogany table with sailor's valentine top, circa 1840 The Victorian mahogany table with a central column with a shaped square foote...

Set of four chairs. Sold as a set.     

This tea caddy is of rectangular form with a stepped hinged lid, set on bun feet and worked in Caribbean timbers and wooden nails with compass roses and a central starburst roundel on the front, the sides and lid with diamonds, triangles and four hearts, the velvet-lined interior fitted with two caddies with diamond-shaped lids and a cut glass mixing bowl (later), the underside with an indistinct maker’s label ‘From Ralph Turnbull...

French Caribbean sea shell-work picture, circa 1820-1840. The superb early 19th-century rectangular picture with a central reserve depicting naval objects including flags, drums,...

Hector Aguilar Exceedingly rare set of circa 1940-1962 sterling silver flatware by Hector Aguilar, Taxco, Mexico in the scarce “Rope” pattern, handles decorated with a rope motif running from the trefoil bottoms to the necks. This superb set includes: 13 dinner knives, flat handle all-sterling, 9 1/2" 16 dinner forks, 7 1/2" 16 salad forks, 6 1/4" 23 teaspoons, 6 1/8" 1 place soup spoon, 7" 12 flat handle butter spreaders, 5" 12 cocktail forks, 5" 5 demitasse spoons, 3 1/2" 13 corn...

Drexel Heritage, coffee table, walnut, marble and brass, United States, 1970s A hexagonal shaped coffee table in walnut, inlayed with beautiful marble. The corners and edges of th...

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...

Sailor's double large Valentine, With Motto- Thinking of You. Barbados, West Indes, circa 1875 The sailor's valentine within an octagonal wood box with an aqua-blue paper li...

Alexander Calder jute fiber tapestry titled “Turquoise”. Produced by CAC Publication and Bon Art, Nicaragua in 1975. This example is #22/100. Embroidered m...