Napoleonic prisoner of war box

Early 19th Century Napoleonic prisoner of war straw box
We are proud to offer an early 19th Century Napoleonic prisoner of war straw work marquetry ladies sewing or jewellery box. With hinged lid opening to reveal a mirror in the lid and 3 compartments opening to a fitted interior with one section open.

This box dates to the Napoleonic wars between the French and English. Prisoners-of-war were held in purpose-built prisoner-of-war depots and typically were soldiers and sailors of the rank and file. Straw was a popular craft material for prisoners of war. They turned their skill to the making of cases and boxes covered with intricate straw patterns created using the contrasts between the light and dark sides of the straw strips. Those who understood dyes were also able to add colour to their work and produced some very sophisticated objects. Fewer of these straw items have survived to the present day, but there are still some lovely straw-covered boxes and cases which are intact.
Size in inches approx.: H 9” x W 7” x D 2”
Period: Early 19th Century
Material: Straw and wood
Origin: France
Condition: Aged
Completely solid in structure and form, aged naturally, discolouring across most of the surface, loss of detail and damage in areas shown.
This is an aged object so expect age related wear as the photos aim to show however it is exceedingly difficult to photograph all the areas on this piece. Therefore, we strongly suggest reviewing all the photos provided as part of this advert and propose questions where sections / condition is unclear to avoid disappointment when purchasing.