12" Sailor’s Valentine | Elizabeth Braun

Handcrafted by noted Nantucket artist Elizabeth Braun, this piece features an intricate arrangement of shells from Nantucket beaches and the Caribbean encased in a cherrywood frame. Sailor's Valentines were purchased by sailors from Pacific Islanders in the 1800s during their long whaling expeditions. The shells and trinkets represented in these special boxes reflected the exotic areas the sailors visited. The sailors gave them to passing ships heading back to home ports as valentines to loved ones. This is a true Nantucket tradition kept alive by artists such as Braun, whose one-of-a-kind treasures are cherished for their exquisite, handmade beauty.