Five Victorian Folk Art Shell Boxes. Two are are heart Boxes, two are round, and the largest 5 1/2" long is oval. These make a great group for display. Weight on all 1 pd 10 oz. PROVENANCE: A Charleston SC Private Estate. Victorian ladies could purchase shellwork supplies in Mrs.Roberson’s shop on London’s Grosvenor Square. Little packets were sold with shells already sorted and accompanied by printed patterns for forming shell flowers, boxes and frames. To attach shells to a decorative object, the shells were dipped into hot wax or glue, and arranged in fanciful designs. Shell art, or shell work, as it is also called, was a past time many Victorian society ladies enjoyed. Even Queen Victoria was fond of shell art, she often had gifts or shell work portraits commissioned for her court favorites. Due to their popularity, a shellwork industry sprang up world wide in many busy ports. Most of the shellwork souvenirs were designed for women, small boxes, sewing drawers, little frames, small, sweet mementoes that a sailor could either ship or tuck into his “kit” to bring back home.

minor nicks to a few shells