Details
Description
Vintage 1950s handmade sailors valentine double-heart picture frame from Morro Bay, California. This intricate coastal folk art piece features two …
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Vintage 1950s handmade sailors valentine double-heart picture frame from Morro Bay, California. This intricate coastal folk art piece features two heart-shaped photo openings surrounded by assorted natural seashells arranged over a reddish-brown base.
The shellwork reflects Central California coastal craft traditions, with shells including abalone fragments, olive-style shells, small dark marine gastropods, cowrie-style accents, and long turritella/screw-form shells arranged in dense fan, floral, and border patterns. The bottom-left cluster includes larger shell fragments and pearlescent abalone-like elements, while the two heart openings are framed by highly dimensional shellwork.
This is a functional double-heart picture frame, but the dense shell arrangement and sculptural construction also make it a strong standalone coastal folk art object. The back has a handmade wood structure with easel-style support, and the underside is finished with green felt bearing a handwritten “400” private collection inventory marking.
Very good vintage condition overall. The shells are secure except for one loose/unsecured shell. Natural shellwork shows expected variation, minor discoloration, small chips, glue residue, and age-related surface wear. A distinctive California coastal decorative object for a shelf, vanity, dresser, beach house, coastal interior, or cabinet of curiosities.
STYLE
Coastal
Folk Art
Americana
MATERIALS
Shell
Abalone
Wood
Paint
Felt
DIMENSIONS
Width: 12.5 in
Depth: 6 in
Height: 8 in
CONDITION
Very good vintage condition overall with wear consistent with age.
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- Dimensions
- 12.5ʺW × 6ʺD × 8ʺH
- Period
- 1950s
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Abalone
- Felt
- Wood
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Red
- Condition Notes
- This vintage, handmade seashell folk art picture frame is in overall good, well-preserved condition, showing an appropriate amount of wear … moreThis vintage, handmade seashell folk art picture frame is in overall good, well-preserved condition, showing an appropriate amount of wear and character consistent with its age. The main wooden base and central vertical stand are structurally sound, allowing the frame to sit upright and steady. The frame is constructed of thin plywood and wood strips (common for the era). The construction is typical of home-built folk art, featuring minor imperfections in cuts and slightly uneven spacing, which are part of the object's charm and authenticity rather than true damage. The seashell arrangement, which extensively covers the front of the frame, is remarkably complete. All major clusters - the Turritella-style outlines, the central fan, and the large bottom-left assortment are present and firmly attached. There is one loose/unsecured shell at the bottom right of the “flower”. This piece is a durable and visually complete example of a vintage, regionally-sourced (Morro Bay, CA) folk art shell frame. It presents beautifully and requires no restoration. It is sold in its original, aged condition. less
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