Sailors Valentines
MARITIME ART FROM THE SEA
Artist Gregg Roberts
I remember, as a young boy, seeing my first Sailors Valentine at a whaling museum. Today I devote much of my time to this art form and continue to be amazed at the complexity that can be achieved from tiny shells. All of my boxes are made from Honduran mahogany and crafted into the traditional octagonal shape and hand rubbed with a wax finish. I have also studied the art of fancy knot work and have incorporated many styles and types of knots into my designs. Knot tying is a time-honored pastime for a sailor and I also spend many hours trying to develop this skill. The final design of each piece develops as I work, which guarantees uniqueness and allows the piece to develop its own character. All of my work is signed, numbered, dated, cataloged and comes with a certificate of authenticity for insurance purposes. I have a gallery at my home in Cotuit, by appointment only, on Cape Cod. I have done some museum restoration as well as the restoration of very old Sailors Valentines from private collections. I also enjoy doing commission work for my customers who would like to customize a Valentine of their own. Twice yearly (fall and spring) I teach a small class in the art of Sailors Valentines. Please feel free to inquire about availability. I hope that you enjoy my work as much as I do creating it for you. Feel free to e-mail me at cape468@aol.com for sizes and prices. Some of my work is also found at the Quester Gallery at http://www.arts-cape.com/sailval.htm
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The Story! So that's how it goes!
In The late 1700's many men and young boys went out to sea on whaling voyages that would circumnavigate the earth and take them away from home for years at a time. Unlike ordinary commerce ships, the whalers would only return to homeport when the ships larder was filled with barrels of oil that had been rendered from the whale. Life on board ship must have been filled with long periods of boredom as the ship cruised the open seas in search of the elusive whale. The hunt would continue in all types of weather until a whale was harpooned, hauled along side and cut up into huge pieces that would be boiled in the try pots on the main deck. This work went on around the clock until the whale had given up its valuable oil which was used for lamp oil and a valuable substance used in perfumery. The ship was not built for comfort and the work would create a slippery and bloody environment that killed many sailors. The whaling ship would often stop at Caribbean islands to replenish the ships stores and to address any repairs that had to be done before the long journey home. After many months or years at sea, the addition of fresh fruit, molasses and rum made the island a welcome haven. Barbados was one of the islands that the whalers frequented and was chosen due to its proximity to the hunting grounds and the deep natural harbor that could protect a large whaling ship. Two hundred years ago maritime commerce was the only contact with the outside world for the natives and they would take advantage of this trade opportunity by selling handmade trinkets to the sailors. The Sailors Valentine is one of those souvenirs that the natives made for the sailors. Using whatever wood was available, the islanders would fashion octagonal shadow boxes and fill then with symmetrical designs made from local sea shells. As the craft evolved, the addition of shell lettered romantic phrases were added to the Sailors Valentines. The sailors would buy these for their sweethearts as tokens of their love and a reminder of their journey.