Comments on: Like the Victorians, we collect seashells by the seashore

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 30 May 2011 19:07:28 +0000

Hi I came across a rare artwork made of tiny sea shells in a set of fours. It seems like no information is out online to help me understand why they were mad. Maybe you can point me in the right direction.

By: William Jordan

William Jordan — Sat, 21 May 2011 02:43:30 +0000

Hi Chris : This coming Oct. I will be giving a presentation on the History of Sailors Valentines at The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia P.A. I`m wondering if there are any pictures of these cabinets you speak of. “Victorian naturalist owned a collectors’ cabinet, usually in rich mahogany, into which shells were carefully stored”. Bill

By: William Jordan

William Jordan — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:46:05 +0000

So you had Jack tars and we had the Yankee ones. Of all the reading i`ve done on this subject there has never been any comment as to the use of paper dividers. I created two 1800`s style valentines and came to beleve divides were used as an ade for mass production, you do`nt see that in todays contemporary valentines . Thats why some look great and others in some ways look like they were thrown togeather. (I refer to the John Fonds Book on Valentines of the 1800`s). Thanks for the feed back. Bill

By: Christopher Proudlove

Christopher Proudlove — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:19:41 +0000

William, it’s always a pleasure to hear from a reader, so thanks. According to Wikipedia “Jack Tar was a common English term used to refer to seamen of the Merchant or Royal Navy, particularly during the period of the British Empire”. I don’t know about US sailors, but being a Brit, I know I’m a “Limey” (and also great Gilbert and Sullivan fan)! However, Wikipedia also cites the following: A line from the second verse of George M. Cohan’s song, “The Grand Old Flag” contains the lyric, “Hurrah! Hurrah! For every Yankee tar”.
The “Ladies Fancy Work” issue makes for an interesting debate. I suspect all sorts of craft hobbies evolved out of each other over time. In the end, it boils down to chicken and egg. However, I do believe that visiting ships to South Seas ports started the craze for cased shells, which were made by locals keen to cash in on this blossoming souvenir industry. When they appeared back in Blighty (more slang) they were copied by bored gentlewomen with time on their hands. Certainly they turn up often enough, even today.

By: William Jordan

William Jordan — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:51:17 +0000

Thanks Chris for your info one Sailors Valentines. It`s the first time i`ve heard the term “Jack tar”. In folk lore stories i`ve read eight sided cases with shells were called “Ladies Fancy Work”stemming from England. To date no one has proven which came first. Jack tar makes me think twice about which description came first. I assume American sailors were not know as Jack tars. Thanks;Bill