Ottoman trench art aluminium cigarette box made by POW in India

« Prev Item Next Item »

c. 1917

Overview

Ottoman trench art aluminium, rectangular cigarette box with a hinged lid, all raised on four legs. It is ornately engraved with Ottoman symbols on the top and four sides, while the underneath features the inscription 'Souvenir of the Europian [sic] War, P of W Camp, Bellary India'.
The inside retains is wood base lining, although this has bowed over time.
There are many different engravings on the box including scrolls, flags, banners, tassels and floral motifs. There are also areas of stippling and semi-circular decorative patterns.

Historical information

The calligraphic signature in the centre of the lid represents the Sultan's tughra, a unique emblem used on official documents and seals, symbolizing the Sultan's authority and the empire itself. The prominent crescent moon and star motif, seen multiple times, are widely recognized symbols associated with the Ottoman Empire and Islam. The various weapons and flags surrounding the central shield and tughra represent the military power and conquests of the Ottoman Empire, which expanded significantly across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The presence of scales and a book (possibly representing the Quran or law) suggests principles of justice and religious guidance within the empire's governance.

Bellary, India, was a location for prisoner of war camps during World War One, housing Ottoman Turkish soldiers captured by the British. Bellary was first used as a camp for German women and children, predominantly missionary families, before being converted into a POW camp for mostly ethnic Turkish soldiers. A Red Cross report from 1917 indicated the camp held 137 Turkish prisoners.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00588

Item type

Themes

Social History
War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1