Original Ottoman Empire WWI Turkish Prisoner of War Souvenir Bottle
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Original Item: Only One Available. This souvenir beaded glass bottle was brought back after the First World War by a USGI and originates from the Ottoman Empire. Drawing on the rich tradition of textile crafts in the Ottoman Empire, Turkish soldiers incarcerated in British prison camps in the Middle East during and immediately after World War I made a variety of bead work items to relieve the boredom of their prolonged imprisonment and to barter or sell for food and other amenities.
Other examples of Ottoman Empire Turkish prisoner bead work are part of the collection at the National World War One museum in Kansas City, Missouri and can be seen at this link. A wonderful article on Ottoman Prisoner of War Snakes published by the Australian War Memorial can be found at this link.
Bottle is fully covered in beads and reads 1914, this piece was made by the beaded crochet method or weaving on small looms. Prisoners who made the items might have been from the far-flung Ottoman Empire: Turkish, Kurdish, Arab, Greek, or Eastern European. According to recollections Seaman 2nd Class Cyril H. Gaudreau, he was given a snake by Turkish P.O.W.’s to thank him for teaching them how to play baseball.
This example is offered in excellent condition. The bottle measures 8" tall x 3" wide.
- This product is available for international shipping.
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