Sailors Valentines Set to Rule the Waves
Scottish Borders Auction House invited to sell the most unique Valentines Gifts In their first specialist sale of the year, Swan and Turner fine art auctioneers and valuers, our sister company based in the Borders, are offering up for auction three of the most unique Valentines gifts you could purchase this year – antique Sailors’ Valentines. These hugely sought after and very rare items will be sold at Swan and Turner’s sale rooms in Jedburgh on Saturday 30th January. Sailors Valentines (lots 124, 125 and 126) are handcrafted, shell work, love tokens. They were made in Barbados by local women between 1830 and 1880, and sold as souvenirs to departing sailors to take home for their Valentines, hence their name. The lots being sold are octagonal, in hinged wooden boxes depicting intricate, symmetrical designs composed entirely of small polished sea shells. One has a sentimental message in the middle, another, a love heart. Frank Forrest, Auctioneer at Swan and Turner, commenting on the sale said: “The Sailors’? Valentines are already creating a lot of interest both nationally and internationally, as similar coveted items sold previously, piqued interest from collectors in America and Australia. Vendors from around the globe have shown interest in these items so we expect them to achieve well in excess of their estimate of between £600 and £1500.” The Sailor’s Valentines are being sold as part of a larger collection of 250 items from Hallrule Mansion House in Roxburghshire. In keeping with the sailing theme are a collection of 25 19th century sailors’ wool work pictures featuring examples of warships such as the HMS Good Hope, HMS Emanuel and a selection of 3 masted war ship framed pictures making up this desirable collection of intricate needlework. In addition there will also be 550 items up for auction from other collectors including a very fine collection of furniture, paintings, china, jewellery and needlework. The full sale catalogue is available to view at http://www.swanturner.co.uk/sale.php. Swan and Turner provide a complete auction house service, holding five antique auctions a year. The sales programme includes regular auction sales of fine art, antique and collectables, which are interspersed with occasional specialist sales. For more information visit http://www.swanturner.co.uk/ or contact the auction rooms on 01835 863445 or e-mail [email protected].