Souvenir powder compact with carved mother of pearl inlay from Palestine

« Prev Item Next Item »

c. 1940

Overview

Circular metal powder compact featuring a carved mother of pearl inlay and vertical striped detailing on the metal.
The top features an inlaid central depiction of the Australian rising sun badge with the words 'Australian Commonwealth Military Forces' inscribed on it, under which is the word 'Palestine' on a scroll and above which is a shield with the letters 'AIF', both inpainted in blue.
To the outside of this is a kangaroo on the left and an emu on the right, representing the Australian Coat of Arms.
It is all surrounded by a circular border, inside of which are decorative arcs and leaves. An orange red background can be seen through the gaps in the carving.
There is a hinge at the back and a small raised button at the front to enable opening.
Inside is a mirror on the upper surface and a paper lined area on the lower surface where the powder would have been. This is loosely inserted and the underside is another mirror. A buff coloured powder puff with a fluffy white undersurace sits within the two covers.
The underside of the compact is plain metal and there is no maker's mark.

Historical information

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.
A trinket box with an inlaid mother of pearl Australian Army motif held in the collection is dated to World War Two, and it is likely this item dates from that period also.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00771

Item type

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 2