During February Vacation week, the Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Mattapoisett Museum collaborated to recreate the Antique art of a Sailors’ Valentine. The program turned out to be an intergenerational crafting event with older adults, parents and young children, including an ambitious four year old.
Housed in a small exhibit room encased in class, the Museum holds an original Sailors’ Valentine, dated the 1830’s, according to Carole Clifford, President. She said “the object is most likely from Barbados where commissioned pieces of art by sailors visiting the West Indies would be returned to their loved ones. Each attendee toured the Museum and Carriage house before starting their recreations.
Our program was inspired by history and a book borrowed from the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, “Sailors’ Valentines Their Journey Through Time by Grace L. Madeira, Constance Marshall Miller, Mary S. Page and Ann T. Schutt including over 200 photographs.
Much of the materials we used were collected from either natural shells, moss, dried flowers and pine cones, or those purchased to look natural, beads, pearls, silk flowers, refined rope, black octagonal plates and white dollies.
The program emphasized the art of preserving history using local shells from the sea, and becoming familiar with your surroundings and the environment.
Ellen P. Flynn, Director and Chair of Education, with her committee members Joann Porter, Mary Cabral, and Caitlin Porter, 6th grader at Old Hammondtown School, all helped to plan and volunteered to guide the attendees. Carol Clifford, the Museums’ president and Missy, from the museum were on hand to answer historical questions.
Refreshments were served and each child was given a white or red flower to take home with their Sailors’ Valentine.