Long before Instagram feeds and instant snapshots, summer memories arrived home in tangible form: a ship painting in a gilt frame, a seashell necklace from a boardwalk shop, a pressed flower between the pages of a book. In the 18th and 19th centuries, sailors brought back shell-encrusted “valentines” from Caribbean ports, whalers sketched or stamped their quarry into logbooks, and travellers collected seaside mementos as proof of their far-flung adventures. This love of the sea’s bounty wasn’t limited to souvenirs — it found grand expression in shell grottos, elaborate decorative follies I explored in a previous post here. Whether monumental or handheld, these keepsakes were more than decoration – they were storytelling objects, speaking of voyages, encounters, and the romance of the sea. The best of these finds still carry a whiff of adventure, whether it’s the mystery of a far-off port or the simplicity of a beach walk. Displayed together, they remind us that summer is not just a season to live – it’s one to collect.
Mary Maguire’s paintings feel like they could have stepped straight out of a maritime parlour, yet they carry a freshness that belongs entirely to today. Her work draws on the traditions of 18th- and 19th-century marine art: ships in full sail, whalers’ trophies, and shell-framed keepsakes — but reinterprets them with crisp colour, playful composition, and a deep affection for the past.
An 18th-century wunderkammer of marine treasures at Seitenstetten Abbey, Austria. Photographed by Massimo Listri for Architectural Digest, 1994.
The tradition of bringing the seaside home took many forms: sailor’s valentines, shell-covered boxes, whaler’s logs, and — as these postcards show — vibrant printed keepsakes. With their ornate shell borders and romantic lettering, they turned even the simplest beach outing into a cherished story to be sent through the post.
Cynthia Rief handmade seashell and decoupage shadow box depicting a sperm whale and copy of antique whaling journal in the background. Made with hand-collected Nantucket scallop shells and a variety of other shells.
Lulu DK intricate shellwork
Shells, Frants Michael Regenfuss, 1758, Royal Danish Library
Festoon, masks and rosettes made of shells, Jan van Kessel the Elder, 17th century, via Scala Regia
Sailor Valentine by Bernie A. Woodman
Bernard A. Woodman (often signed as B.A. Woodman), born in the 1920s and active through the 1980s in Massachusetts, was a self‑taught designer and craftsman who developed his own unique techniques for creating sailor’s valentines.
Between 1977 and 1982, Woodman collaborated with Cape Cod folk artist Ralph Cahoon. In their creative partnership, Woodman composed the elaborate shell designs, while Cahoon added a whimsical painting in the center—melding shellcraft and colorfully narrative scenes into a unified piece
This exuberant sailor’s valentine, complete with a whale and a ship under full sail, is an example of their collaboration. Cahoon began his career decorating antique furniture with his wife Martha Farham before turning to painting in the 1950s, creating whimsical seafaring scenes that mixed mermaids, sailors, and Cape Cod landscapes with a dash of mischief. His works often nod to maritime history while adding playful twists: mermaids picnicking, sailors in hot air balloons, all rendered in bright, cheerful colours. Today, his paintings and shell-encrusted pieces are sought after by collectors, and the Cahoon Museum of American Art in Cotuit, Massachusetts preserves his joyful, seaside legacy.
Ralph Cahoon, Still Life with Logbook and Scrimshaw, c. 1960s
Last but not least, If I had to put a song to this post, it would be Old Cape Cod by Patti Page, which I randomly came across on Spotify the other day. I knew it straight away from the Groove Armada track At the River, but I’d never actually heard more than the first couple of lines. Listening to the whole thing felt like slipping into a hazy summer afternoon — shells catching the light, and waves rolling in at their own slow pace.
