Casket 1915
Wood, silk | 13 x 18.2 x 13.7 cm (whole object) | RCIN 69488
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A casket of dark varnished wood, the with an arched top; the centre front carved with foliate decoration and the corners carved with acanthus leaves. On four bracket feet and lined with cream silk; the interior contains two wooden rests.
During the First World War, 26,000 prisoners were interned in two camps on the Isle of Man - Camp Knockaloe and Camp Douglas. Most of the prisoners were Austrian and German civilians who had been resident in Britain when war was declared. Of the two camps, Camp Douglas was smaller (only 2,700 of the 26,000 total prisoners) and reserved for those who could afford it; extra privileges such as separate huts or staff could be hired by internees. Arts and crafts were a prominent part of camp life, as they were at other prisoner of war camps.Provenance
Made by a German Prisoner of War at the Douglas Camp, Isle of Man, and possibly part of the group of items given to Queen Mary by Colonel HW Madoc, 1916. Later 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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Medium and techniques
Wood, silk
Measurements
13 x 18.2 x 13.7 cm (whole object)
Category
Object type(s)
Place of Production
Isle of Man