Souvenir olive wood jewellery box with hidden features from Jerusalem

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c. 1940

Overview

Souvenir olive wood, lidded jewellery box from Jerusalem with internal fabric lining and mirror. The front face of the box is in the form of a bookcase.
When viewed from the front, there are seven book spines depicted, each with the relevant Roman numeral painted centrally between two borders in black. There are three matching vertical black lines painted on the timber strip at the base and on the front of the lid.
The lower timber strip can be removed to reveal a secret opening. Once the strip has been moved sufficiently, the central book spine drops down to reveal a locking mechanism with a keyhole.
The top of the lid features a typical middle eastern scene with the silhouettes of a camel and its handler working a farm implement and a palm tree, all above an orange painted base. The word 'Jerusalem' is written in black Gothic letters above the illustration.
The top right hand corner of the lid has been damaged and a small piece of timber is missing.
On the underside of the lid is an inset mirror. The lower section of the box is lined with cream coloured silk material with a decorative floral pattern. There are two metal hinges securing the lid to the lower section and a metal lock mechaism on the front edge.
The other three faces and under surface of the box are plain varnished timber.
A circular painted olive wood napkin ring was located inside the box.

Historical information

This olive wood box, an olive wood napkin ring, a second olive wood box and a filagree metal butterfly brooch were all purchased together. The latter two items came with an envelope indicating the butterfly was a gift from Evelyn to Dos.
It is believed that Evelyn was Australian Army Nursing Service Lieutenant Evelyn Hay Drummond Carmichael, who served with the 6th Australian General Hospital situated on the Gaza Ridge in Palestine at the right time.
Evelyn was born in Bald Hills, Queensland on 26 May 1912. She enlisted for service in Brisbane on 5 August 1940, aged 28 and a single nurse. Her rank was Staff Nurse and her service number was QX6375. She served in Australia at various hospitals until the end of January 1941, when she embarked for the Middle East, arriving on 19 February 1941. She was promoted to Sister on 1 December 1941. She married Supt. Ian Mackenzie Turner of the Palestine Police Force in Gaza on 14 November 1942 and her appointment was terminated two days later.

Visiting servicemen and women purchased a variety of souvenirs from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Palestine and The Holy Land while passing through on active service during both world wars.
Some of the more common items were embroideries such as cushion covers, painted artworks on fabric, jewellery made from mother of pearl, metal and timber, and photo albums with wooden covers filled with postcards of local scenes and pressed dried flowers.
There was also a range of trinket boxes, often with hidden drawers, made from the local olive wood and a range of other olive wood items including napkin rings and even a portable book shelf.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00781

Item type

Themes