Small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake

c. 1916
Overview

Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake in a miniature form. It has been handmade with small glass beads using the beaded crochet method.
The upper side of the snake features a diamond pattern of eight golden beads with a central ruby red bead on a background of bright green beads.
The snake's eyes are represented by a larger red bead surrounded by a circle of dark royal blue beads. There is a diamond formation of four ruby red beads on the centre of the head.
A tongue made from dark pink/lilac beads and a red tip extends from inside the mouth.
The underside of the snake and the surrounds of the open mouth are made from white beads. There is a diamond shaped cluster of dark royal blue beads with a central red bead under the jaw of the snake.
There is no date on the snake.

Historical information

An excellent article about Ottoman beadwork by AWM researcher, Dianne Rutherford, is attached.
There are several examples in the collection including a much larger snake and a tasselled bag.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-119-RoW00557
Material
Width
12 mm
Height or length
310 mm
Depth
20 mm
Year
Primary significance criteria
Artistic or aesthetic significance
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Last modified
Tuesday, 17 June, 2025
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Recollections of War

Recollections of War

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Small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake showing head
Small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake showing head
Close up of the head of the small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Close up of the head of the small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Top view of head of the head of the small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Top view of head of the head of the small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Close up of the top view of a section of the small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Close up of the top view of a section of the small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Underside of small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Underside of small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Underside of head of small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake
Underside of head of small Ottoman prisoner of war beadwork snake

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