Nauticalia

Sailors spend much of their time in foreign ports searching for unusual gifts to take back home. Amongst the most popular were framed shell compositions like this, often incorporating a sentimental message for a wife or sweetheart - the reason they became known as "Sailor's Valentines". The 19th century originals are today recognised as true expressions of folk art, selling at auction for up to £10,000. Our replica is made on the island of Molucca, in Indonesia, where the beaches and reef wash up many thousands of shells in an astonishing variety of colours and sizes every day. Frame height and width 10".