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1 of 253523 objects
Pair of trinket boxes 1914-18
Painted wood | 6.00 x 12.0 x 9.5 cm (whole object) | RCIN 69439
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A pair of small rectangular trinket boxes of varnished wood, each painted on the lid with a scene of a ship at sea. One depicts a large war ship at sunset and the other a sailing barge.
In early October 1914 the First Royal Naval Brigade had been deployed to help the Belgians fight German troops attacking Antwerp. During their retreat through Belgium their route was cut off. On 11 October 1,500 men of the Brigade arrived in Groningen in the Netherlands, having crossed the border to avoid being taken as prisoners of war by the Germans; in the neutral Netherlands they were interned, as dictated by international law. Whilst in the camp the internees took part in organised activities such as woodworking. The objects were sold to the public and could even be made to order.Provenance
Both boxes were made by unknown members of the British First Royal Naval Brigade who were interned at Groningen, Netherlands. They formed part of King George V's War Museum at Windsor Castle, established to display his collection of First World War souvenirs; the King was assisted by the Royal Archivist & Librarian John Fortescue (1859-1933). Many of these objects were loaned to the Imperial War Museum in 1936 at the suggestion of King Edward VIII.
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Creator(s)
(nationality)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Painted wood
Measurements
6.00 x 12.0 x 9.5 cm (whole object)
Category
Object type(s)