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Douglas Camp trinket box

Date made: 1917

Description: Douglas Internment Camp trinket box. A polished wooden trinket or cigar box with a hinged lid and three compartments. The exterior of the box is plain but highly polished. The lid is decorated with an oval of contrasting lighter wood with the image of a young woman in it. The image appears to have been drawn but is of photographic quality, so may be a photograph transferred onto wood, possibly maker's wife or sweetheart. The inside of the box is highly polished and contains two dividers to make three deep compartments. A third groove or slot in centre of box may indicate where a third divider was to make four compartments. The box rests on four square feet but the base and the feet are covered in thick green felt, baize fabric. The baize has been cut to expose an inscription burnt (pyrography) incised into the base: 'Angefertigt im Kreigs Gefangenen Lager Douglas Isle of Man 1917'.


Background:
During the First World War (1914-1918) the Isle of Man was used as an internment base for civilian ‘enemy aliens’. They were held in two camps, a requisitioned holiday camp in Douglas and a purpose built camp located at Knockaloe near Peel on the west coast of the Island. These held at their peaks over 4,000 and 23,000 men in some cases for nearly five years between opening in 1914 and final closure in 1919.

Measurements: overall: 9 x 20 x 30 cm

Materials: brass, mahogany

Object name: box

Collection: Social History Collection

ID Number: 2004-0054

Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS

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