Sailors' Valentines set

Sailors' Valentines are very charming mosaics made from shells, usually kept under glass in wooden boxes made from cedrella (Spanish cedar). The story goes that they were made at sea by sailors for their loved ones back home, but the truth is a little less romantic. Most were made for sale in Barbados between 1830 and 1880. Barbados was a port of call for American and English ships, so many sailors bought their tokens of love for their families and friends there. Most even come from 1 dealer, B.H. Belgrave, dealer in marine specimens and local manufacturers of fancy work. They could be personalised with messages, initials or dates, but these are now very rare. Only 35 types of shell were used to make the mosaics, and they are all native to Barbados.

As the book clearly shows, these two mosaics were made in Barbados in the 19th century.