an antique victorian shell keep sake love token sailors valentine roundel .
circa 1890
approx 230mm in diameter.
an exquisite round shaped curved glass covered diorama, ( often known as a bulls eye on account of its curved glass, port hole roundels had flat glass ) consisting of a victorian colour tinted print of "the old man of hoy" .surrounded by pelicans foot shells , cowrie, mussel, periwinkle and pretty coloured and pearlescent english and european shells.
the old man of hoy is a 449-foot sea stack on hoy, part of the Orkney archipelago off the north coast of scotland. formed from old red sandstone, it is one of the tallest stacks in the united kingdom.
tthis is a fine example of a shell keepsake. the shells are bright and all intact, they have been carefully cleaned and conserved removing a century of dirt, soot and grime to revitalise their natural beauty. the original brass and silk hanging ring has been replaced at some time with a later hanging ring.
shell work was very much in vogue when queen victoria came to the throne in 1837. her reign coincided with a period of tremendous social expansion as the industrial revolution gave more and more people free time, money and education to enjoy pastimes. coastal resorts and spas became popular holiday destinations. sea shells became very fashionable as souvenirs, in particular when they were incorporated into items such as this roundel, to be taken home as a reminder of the good times spent on holiday or as a keepsake or love token to be given to a potential suitor.
this antique shell keepsake was manufactured in the uk over 100 years ago.
