14 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 10, 2021
history
A SAILOR’s Valentine
Sailor’s Valentine
A
the world and often would be at sea for a year or more. I could see the sailors walking along deserted reader sent me beaches and picking a photograph of up all sorts of seashells a Sailor’s Valenand, when they had a tine, wanting to sufficient collection, know whether it spending their off-duty is true that these hours gluing all sorts objets d’art used and sizes of shells onto to be made in the a plate-sized frame, Bahamas. That which they would cover picture brought with glass. back fond memoEach valentine was ries of Babbie a unique mosaic and Holt and her framed in an octagonal FORGOTTEN FACTS daughter Pam shape, about the size Dunn, who used of a dinner plate and to live in Lyford about two inches deep. Cay and had a stunning collection of Most of the designs show hearts, them. flowers, anchors and other nautical For a long time, I believed these symbols. Often there would be a splendid creations were sculpted by romantic message, spelled out with crewmembers of the ships that sailed small shells.
PAUL C ARANHA
When a seaman returned home, he would give his finished masterpieces to his loved ones. It was mind-blowing that so many seamen could craft such intricate and perfect art. But the truth will out, and it was discovered that these works of nautical art were created by professional artists and sold by Belgrave’s Curiosity Shop in Barbados, where they could be ordered with the buyer’s personal message. Benjamin Belgrave had created a thriving industry that catered to the crews and passengers on homeward bound ships. Does this deflate the romantic image? Hardly! A Sailor’s Valentine is one of those things of beauty that last forever. I haven’t seen such a valentine for several years, but when I look
BELGRAVE’s Curiosity Shop in Barbados, c. 1893 (Photo courtesy of Bowers Museum) at pictures, I still imagine myself sailing with Captain Flint on the Walrus, headed for Treasure Island and singing, “Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest. Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of rum.” • For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@gmail.com
