Sailor's Valentine's are a unique antique souvenir or sentimental gift brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea for his his loved one between 1830 and 1890 and are believed to be originated from Barbados and weren't made by sailors but purchased as a gift for their love back home. They are typically octagonal, glass fronted wooden boxes that display intricate symmetrical designs composed entirely of small sea shells. Patterns often include a compass rose or a heart design, hence the name. Today these originals are collectible and valued for their beauty and unusual qualities. There are also artists who make them today or you can collect some shells to make your own.
Beautiful display of various size and colored Sailors Valentines by Diamond & Baratta from Veranda
Bedroom decorated with mosaic of similar styled sailors valentines from Phoebe Howard
Beautiful large sailors valentine on a stand from Country Living
Authentic clamshell style Sailors Valentine which was shaped this way so that it could be closed and kept safe during travel from Guinevere on 1st Dibs
Amazing neutral palette with floral theme from Sandy Moran
This close-up picture really shoes the amount of detail from Martha Stewart
Authentic Sailors Valentines on loan to Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Very neat octagon shaped book featuring many of these classic treasures "Sailors Valentines by John Fondas"
Desire to make your own with this kit
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I was going to comment on your post, but I think you got a new profile picture? Sorry if I'm being spacy, but it looks new to me -- love it!
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