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Decorative wooden anchor covered in shells

Sailor's Valentine

Decorative shellwork anchor

Wood and shell, overall dimensions 180 x 210 mm

Traditionally sailors made items like this whilst on aboard ship to give as a gift to loved ones on their return home.

The designs are typically a decorative geometric arrangement of shells within a square or octagonal case, sometimes including a sentimental line such as ‘forget me not’. This work is thought to have been produced for the souvenir market, perhaps in the Caribbean, and dates from between 1840 – 1860.

Gift of Mr T Whelan, Isle of Bute.

You can see this item on display in the Lifelines gallery at Merseyside Maritime Museum.

Accession number MMM.1996.158

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