Souvenir olive wood napkin rings from Jerusalem

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Overview

Five souvenir napkin rings made from olive wood purchased in Jerusalem.
Each is slightly different in height and width, but all feature the word 'Jerusalem' printed in black paint on the edge, and four of the five have depictions of camels and their handlers, often carrying water, with the sunset or sunrise behind.
One ring is plain in terms of lacking a painted illustration, but is more decorative in shape, having a concave profile between two borders.

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 such as these and even a portable book shelf.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00769

Item type

Themes