Folksy Valentines Part II: Sailor's Valentines

There's something so moving about sailor's valentines. Part of it's the meticulous effort it took to collect and arrange all those shells -- talk about devotion! But also, there's the sense of longing from a distance, the image of a sailor pining away at sea for his loved one back home.

It. Kills. Me.

Of all the sailor's valentines I've found on the web, the ones offered by Diana H. Bittel Antiques are the most beautiful. She states that her inventory comes predominantly from Barbados and are circa 1860-1880. Tell me this one doesn't make your heart swell:



Sailors were also known to carve love tokens for their sweethearts. Helen Warren Spector showcases this lovely emblem, which appears to have been carved from bone:



I also love that sailor's valentines often had a functional use. This shell-encrusted jewelry box from Antiques at 30b would make a beautiful centerpiece for an occasional table or buffet:

Folksy Valentines Part I: Scherenschnittes for your Sweetie

Valentine's Day is around the corner, and I'd like to kick things off by posting a weekly round-up of some delightful hand-crafted and home-made tokens of affection.

Let's start by taking a look at some cut-paper love tokens.

Barbara Ardizone offers this breathtaking scherenschnitte heart with watercolor details. The intricacy is astounding and the darkness of the period frame sets off the silhouette so nicely.



How sweet is this set of cut-paper lovebird love tokens? Too sweet for words. Seller Peggy McClard estimates them to be circa 1840 -- a miracle that they've lasted so long!



Carlson and Stevenson offer a number of lovely and unusual antique Valentines and love tokens. My favorites are the woven pairs of hearts, such as this beauty:



I wouldn't mind a bit if my Valentine gave me one of these antique love tokens . . . but 10-1, I get the same ol' Whitman's sampler I get every year.