Victorian Sailors Valentine Shell Art Pin Cushion (07/19/2009)

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Victorian Sailors Valentine Shell Art Pin Cushion

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Victorian Sailors Valentine Shell Art Pin Cushion

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Sold Date: 07/19/2009
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

Victorian Era Red Velvet

Pin CushionShell Art Chair and Sofa

This auction is for an antique Victorian Era love token seashell art Chair and Sofa with a Red satin pin cushion. the Pincushion on the back of both the chair and the sofa is still holding the sawdust, looks like the pincushion was never used. It has red and green seeds that are very common for these older Victorian shell art pieces. Both pieces are a little dirty from sitting around for all these years T are no missing shells. It is all original.

Overall It is in Good condition.

In the late nineteenth century no beau would dare to visit his sweetheart without taking some token of his true feelings, a bunch of flowers,candy,an item of jewelry or a book of poems. From a wide range of shell decorated items that have survived and the message of Love and Affection that they often bare, it appears that boxes and trinkets,decorated in shells were also popular gifts for loved ones. Boxes perhaps because they symbolized dependability with a romantic hint of travel to exotic places were also popular, encrusted with shells and often incorporating satin or velvet pincushions added in form of different shapes like diamond,oval round or heart shape. Besides being used as sewing boxes they were often used for jewelry,photographs,trinkets and love letters. They say don't judge the contents by the package but it' is always the package that is seen first. Some of these boxes may well have been used as presentation cases for candy, silken handkerchiefs or something to find favor.

Some people would call this an old sailors valentine. Sailors would pick these shell items up to give them to t sweethearts when they got home.It was also the custom of the day when visiting the seashore to collect shells as mementos of the trip and friends met along the way. Paper shops would sell paper boxes / picture frames in decorative designs for the purpose of covering them with the gatd shells. It is a custom simular to making a memory jar, vase etc. Women at that time were also very adept at making their own gifts and love tokens to friends from inexpensive material as they often times had very little access to ready cash. Their husbands holding the purse strings as it were.

Sofa measures 4" long x 1 3/4 " tall x 2 " in depth. Chair measures 2" long x 2" tall x 1 3/4 in depth What a great find!

Check out my other items !

The group pic is of the other victorian shell art items that I have on ebay for sale.

If you are the high bidder on 3 or more shell art items that I'm currently selling on ebay...I will pay all shipping costs.

Check out my other items !

Check out my other items! Simular pieces may be viewed in Smyth's Neptune's Treasure book. No missing seashells. I'm no expert in this stuff,so what you see is what you get. Sold as is. Buyer pays actual shipping cost. Insurance is buyers option. No charge for packaging or handling. Feel free to email me with any questions.