19thC Chip Art Sailor Work Valentine Frame Hawaii

Price: $385.00.

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This is a masterful folkart piece of Hawaii and sailor work; a piece of fine Americana. Guessing it is mid to late 19th C. I believe it was a frame made by a sailor on off hours on those long voyages often longing for his loved one. Like a scrimshaw piece, it tells a story showing the various symbols of love, the sea and ships articles of importance. The ships wheel, the anchor, the rowing oars. And, the spiritual sign of the cross. And the crossed flags are the flags of Hawaii. Marine art often had wonderful heartfelt valentines made by sailors. Perhaps, this frame once held one of these. The work on the frame is called chip art. The intricacies of this work is quite wonderful. The frame measures 9 1/2" X 7 1/2."