Sailors’ Valentines were popular mementos for sailors aboard navy and whaling ships from 1830–1880 and are relatively rare today. Long considered fascinating examples of 19th century maritime craft tradition, these shallow octagonal wooden boxes open to reveal intricate mosaics created from shells of various shapes and colors arranged in complex geometric patterns and motifs, such as hearts, anchors, and flowers. When closed, these boxes could be easily stored, making them ideal for time at sea.
In addition to being a decorative souvenir, these boxes were often given by sailors as tokens of love and friendship to their wives, mothers, sisters, and friends upon a seafarer’s return to North America after months at sea. Personalization such as photographs, names, and initials, as well as sentimental messages were often incorporated into the interior mosaics. Notes often include statements such as: “To a Friend,” “Think of Me When Far Away,” “Remember Me,” “With Love,” “Forget Me Not,” and “Home Again.”
