Antique West Indian Shellwork Double Octagonal Remember Me Sailors Valentine

For sale is a Beautiful Antique 1850s West Indian Shellwork Double Octagonal Remember Me Sailors Valentine. 

This sailors valentine measure’s when closed 24cm length x 24cm width x 6.8cm depth. 

A sailor's valentine is a form of shellcraft, a type of mostly antique souvenir, or sentimental gift made using large numbers of small seashells. Sailor's valentines are typically octagonal, glass-fronted, hinged wooden boxes. Displaying intricate symmetrical designs composed entirely of small sea shells of various colors glued onto a backing. This sailors valentines on the left hand side shows many coloured shells, and a crab with a glass prawn. The right side shows beautiful coloured shells surrounding the words “Remember me”. These were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea and given to the sailor's loved one or loved ones. Although the name seems to suggest that the sailors themselves made these objects, a large number of them originated on the island of Barbados, which was an important seaport during this period. Historians believe that the women on Barbados made the valentines using local shells, or in some cases, using shells imported from Indonesia, and then the finished products were sold to the sailors. The art form represents a fusion of European and West African scientific and spiritual, aesthetic, and cultural practices of shell collection and display.

This is in excellent condition, however there is a crack in the wood on top which can be seen in the photos for more details. 

This will be sent via Royal Mail special delivery and dispatched the next working day.

Seller reference: T