Shell Games

Sailor’s Valentines

Leave it to the Bahamian designer Amanda Lindroth, the style world’s expert on the island aesthetic, to revive the notion of the sailor’s valentine. The nineteenth-century art form began out of love: Legend holds that sailors passed the time during voyages from the Caribbean to England piecing shells together to bring home to their sweethearts. Now you can enjoy one as well—no seafaring required ($500 each; amandalindroth.com).

Jewelry Box

This fantastical resting place for baubles by Currey & Company looks like something dredged up from Atlantis. Nearly every shell type is represented, from the calico scallop to the lettered olive and lion’s paw ($240; burkedecor.com).

Coin Purses

Evolution Store shell coin purses with delicate brass hinges offer a stylish way to store vitamins, jewelry, or rare coins, or simply add a little flair to a vanity or bookshelf ($5; theevolutionstore.com).

Earrings

Whether in the form of the cowrie starbursts on these feather-light posts from Brinker & Eliza ($168; brinkerandeliza.com) or the clusters of shells decorating hoops by Deepa Gurnani ($80; deepagurnani.com), beachy statement earrings are here to stay.

This article appears in the June/July 2020 issue of  Garden & Gun. Start your subscription here or give a gift subscription here.