Sailor's valentine

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 ranging from 8 to 20 inches (20 to 51 cm) in width, displaying intricate symmetrical designs composed entirely of small sea shells of various colors glued onto a backing.

Patterns often feature a centerpiece such as a compass rose or a heart design, hence the name, and in some cases the small shells are used to spell out a motto or sentimental message,[1] such as "Forget Me Not" or "Home Again.

[4] The art form represents a fusion of European and West African scientific and spiritual, aesthetic, and cultural practices of shell collection and display.

[8] They were popular souvenirs between 1852 and 1920,[9] but by the late 19th century, sailor's valentines fell out of fashion and faded into obscurity until being rediscovered as a folk art form in the 1930s.