The nature of prisoner of war (POW) work and the items they made varied greatly throughout history and according to different conflicts. Apart from being utilised as forced labour, in some camps, prisoners were able to procure basic materials and tools to manufacture clothes, furniture, toys, and other everyday items which in some cases were sold to the civilian population. Materials used included timber, bone and straw. (See also trench art.)

43 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

An 18th century prisoner of war carved treen shoe snuff box,…

18th Century POW Carved Shoe Snuff Box with Inlays

An 18th century prisoner of war carved treen shoe snuff box, with hinged lid, finely carved lattice designs and bone inlaid heart & lozenge on the lid and toe, 8.5 cm L

Napoleonic prisoner of war antique straw-work box, early 19th…

Napoleonic Prisoner of War Antique Straw-Work Box, Early 19th Century

Napoleonic prisoner of war antique straw-work box, early 19th century, 7.5 cm high, 26 cm wide, 17 cm deep

George V 9ct rose gold POW fob chain marked 9 375 touch marks,…

George V 9ct Rose Gold POW Fob Chain, Birmingham 1923

George V 9ct rose gold POW fob chain marked 9 375 touch marks, date letter & city mark lost. Makers J, L Birmingham Circa 1923, length 62 cm, with a single fob clasp as a pendant at the end. Weight 16.93 grams. Prince of Wales chain width 3 mm

A model of the scow 'Rangi', the last big cargo scow out of…

Model of Scow 'Rangi' and Book 'Out of Auckland'

A model of the scow 'Rangi', the last big cargo scow out of Auckland in the early 1900s and used mainly for cargos of native timber. During World War I the Rangi was instrumental in recapturing Von Luckner who had escaped from internment on Motuihe Island…

Joseph Herman RAAF '466' Squadron - 'Caterpillar Club':…

Miracle Survivor's WWII Personal Effects & Caterpillar Club Membership

Joseph Herman RAAF '466' Squadron - 'Caterpillar Club': Personal effects of miracle World War II survivor Joseph Herman who on the night of November 4, 1944 was piloting a Handley Page Halifax B III bomber over Germany when hit by anti-aircraft fire.…

World War I Turkish P.O.W. (prisoner of war) bead work bag…

Turkish P.O.W. Bead Work Bag with Australian Crest

World War I Turkish P.O.W. (prisoner of war) bead work bag emblazoned 'Turkish Prisoner, 1918, Advance Australia', adorned with Australian crest with emu and kangaroo over 'George' on both sides. A rare survivor in excellent condition. 38 cm high overall,…

An antique carved bone model ship in case, in the Prisoner of…

19th Century Carved Bone Model Ship in POW Style Case

An antique carved bone model ship in case, in the Prisoner of War style, 19th century 16 cm high, 20 cm wide, 9 cm deep

A late 19th Century Napoleonic prisoner-of-war hand carved set…

Napoleonic POW Hand Carved Domino Set with Box

A late 19th Century Napoleonic prisoner-of-war hand carved set of dominos, in a sliding lidded box, red and black stained highlights, length 12 cm.

Very rare antique early 19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war…

Napoleonic POW Bone Ship Model in Glass Case

Very rare antique early 19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war scale built bone model of a three mast gun ship, in glass case, displaying fine hand work detail, case 27 cm high, 40.5 cm wide, 17 cm D, purchased Christies London 1992

19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war made model of a…

Napoleonic POW's Whaleboat Model with Rigging and Harpoons

19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war made model of a whaleboat, bone on wood carcase with rigging, sail, oars and harpoons, with later stand and display case, 36 cm width

19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war boxed miniature bone…

Napoleonic POW Bone Domino Set in Book Box

19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war boxed miniature bone domino set the box carved in the form of a book, sliding lid and spine decorated with roundels, containing 30 small dominoes

19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war boxed miniature bone…

Napoleonic POW Bone Domino Set

19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war boxed miniature bone domino set rectangular carved bone on pine carcas box with sliding lid decorated with roundels and fluted panels to the lid, containing a full set of 28 small dominoes, 17 cm length.

19th century straw work cigarette box with ornate parquetry and…

Colorful Straw Work Cigarette Box with Geometric Inlays

19th century straw work cigarette box with ornate parquetry and geomertrc inlays, the lower half interior and exterior designed in bright purple, green and red bands, 12 cm length (possibly prisoner of war made)

Manner of William Clarkson Stanfield RA (1793-1867) Laying an…

Stanfield's Anchor in Portsmouth Harbor

Manner of William Clarkson Stanfield RA (1793-1867) Laying an Anchor Portsmouth harbour from a morning Barge probably a prison ship with French POW, watercolour heightened with white 16.5 x 26 cm

Napoleonic French prisoner of war straw work box with carved…

Napoleonic French POW Straw Work Box with Bone Handles

Napoleonic French prisoner of war straw work box with carved bone handles, circa 1805. Straw work and bone carving was a way of prisoners earning some extra money that could purchase them more favourable food and conditions. 20.5 cm high, 24.5 cm wide, 17…

World War II internment camps penny of the Commonwealth of…

Australian Penny Commemorates WWII Internment Camps

World War II internment camps penny of the Commonwealth of Australia

Toy gun, rare 'Atomic Pow'r space Gun' by Glenn (Australia),…

Glenn's Atomic Pow'r Space Gun

Toy gun, rare 'Atomic Pow'r space Gun' by Glenn (Australia), sturdy plastic construction in bright yellow and blue with red trim on the handle, brass plunger system fires a cork, c.1950s, length 19 cm.

World War II P.O.W. Internment Camps: 1d and 3d ('Camps')…

WWII P.O.W. Internment Camp Currency Tokens (2) Vf-Ef

World War II P.O.W. Internment Camps: 1d and 3d ('Camps') Currency tokens in Vf-Ef condition. (2).

19th century Napoleonic war period, POW carved shoe snuff box,…

Napoleonic War Shoe Snuff Box: POW Carved

19th century Napoleonic war period, POW carved shoe snuff box, length 8 cm

[German Internment Camps in Australia], c.1942 metal cigarette…

Hay Internment Camp Cigarette Box

[German Internment Camps in Australia], c.1942 metal cigarette box with wooden base, which has, a hand-painted view on the lid, titled 'Internment -, Camp - Hay - N.S.W.' showing two barracks buildings, a stockade, fences and lights and is endorsed 'B to…

Two 1939-1945 World War II Prisoner of war zinc Identity tags.…

WWII POW Zinc ID Tags from Stalag Viiic and Oflag Xiiid

Two 1939-1945 World War II Prisoner of war zinc Identity tags. One for Stalag Viiic (adjacent to the famous Stalag Luft III) near Sagan, Germany, now Zagan, Poland, built in September 1939, after the fall of Tobruk in December 1941, it housed Australian &…

Napoleonic prisoner of war straw work box, showing harbour and…

Napoleonic Straw Work Prisoner Box: Harbour and Ship Scene

Napoleonic prisoner of war straw work box, showing harbour and ship scene, approx length 27 cm

Russian school, signed, 'Korean House Boy,' 1943. Inscribed…

Korean House Boy: Russian POW's Enamel Painting, 1943

Russian school, signed, 'Korean House Boy,' 1943. Inscribed verso as painted by Russian prisoner of war, enamel on board, 44 x 30 cm

World War II trench art POW tobacco box

WWII POW Tobacco Box Trench Art

World War II trench art POW tobacco box

A 19th century/20th century Prisoner-of-War carved bone domino…

POW Carved Bone Domino Set in Inlaid Wood Box

A 19th century/20th century Prisoner-of-War carved bone domino set in wood box, the inlaid box with sliding lid containing a domino set with black stained highlights. Box width 18 cm, depth 4.2 cm, height 4.5 cm.

A Prisoner-of-War miniature of a bone domino set, in a small…

POW Bone Domino Set in Decorated Box

A Prisoner-of-War miniature of a bone domino set, in a small bone box with carved and painted decoration to the sides. 35 x 35 x 30 cm.

Possible Japanese Pow carved walking cane of flattened tapering…

Japanese Figural Carved Walking Cane

Possible Japanese Pow carved walking cane of flattened tapering form with figural top

The Boer War - Newspaper Posters 1902: Two (2) fragile but…

Boer War Newspaper Posters 1902: Court Martial and Executions

The Boer War - Newspaper Posters 1902: Two (2) fragile but largely intact 'The Age' [Melbourne] posters, each 67 x 49 cm and held within a metal frame. The first poster, dated April 1st 1902 features a two-line heading 'Court-Martialled Australians /…

Antique French Prisoner of war Napoleonic (1803-1815) straw…

Napoleonic War Straw Work Box

Antique French Prisoner of war Napoleonic (1803-1815) straw work box, 7 cm high, 22 cm long, 14 cm deep

Australian World War II Internment Camp Token, three pence,…

Australian WWII Internment Camp Token - 3 Pence

Australian World War II Internment Camp Token, three pence, diameter 15.9 mm.

World War I Prisoner of war walking stick carved bone finial of…

Carved Bone Walking Stick with Japanese Soldier Caricature

World War I Prisoner of war walking stick carved bone finial of caricature of Japanese solider

Two French prisoner of war camp tokens.

French POW Camp Tokens

Two French prisoner of war camp tokens.

Australian World War II POW Internment Camp token 3d

WWII Australian POW Camp Token

Australian World War II POW Internment Camp token 3d

Lieutenant K J Payne Pow 4222 'A Wartime Log For British…

Wartime Log: POW's Journey and Creativity

Lieutenant K J Payne Pow 4222 'A Wartime Log For British Prisoners' New Zealand World War II soldier captured 1st June 1941 released 11.4.45 & interred at Oflag VIII F Brunswick, comprising one hundred & seventeen pages relaying his time as a Prisoner of…

A Napoleonic prisoner of war bone model tallship, early 19th…

Napoleonic Bone Tallship Model, 19th Century

A Napoleonic prisoner of war bone model tallship, early 19th century, 35 cm high, 41 cm long

Antique 1800's French straw work box, prisoner of War example,…

French POW Straw Work Box with Church and Ship

Antique 1800's French straw work box, prisoner of War example, depicting a church with a two masted ship approx 8 cm high, 27 cm long, 18 cm deep

Antique French straw work box, prisoner of War example,…

French POW Straw Work Box with Church and Ship Design

Antique French straw work box, prisoner of War example, depicting a church and a small ship, approx 7 cm high, 19.5 cm long, 14.5 cm deep

French Prisoner of War Napoleonic straw work box, approx 8 cm…

Napoleonic War Straw Work Box

French Prisoner of War Napoleonic straw work box, approx 8 cm high, 22 cm wide, 15 cm deep

A standard. Issue fighting knife, AKA: K-BAR knife. This US…

WWII K-BAR Knife: A Trophy of Operation AGAS

A standard. Issue fighting knife, AKA: K-BAR knife. This US knife was taken from a Jap soldier along the Borneo death March track between Sandakan and Ranau in 1945, by Jack Sue of Z special Unit and his guerrilla forces of OPERATION AGAS How the Jap…

French Napoleonic Prisoner of war straw work box, circa 1800,…

Napoleonic POW Straw Work Box, 1800

French Napoleonic Prisoner of war straw work box, circa 1800, approx 8.5 cm high, 20 cm long, 16 cm wide

A prisoner of war carved bone mortuary figure of an officer,…

POW Carved Bone Mortuary Figure in Ebonised Frame

A prisoner of war carved bone mortuary figure of an officer, 19th century, in an ebonised frame, 8.5 x 8 cm

World War II Changi and Sime road POW Camp 1941-45. Archive…

Changi and Sime Road: WWII POW Camp Collection

World War II Changi and Sime road POW Camp 1941-45. Archive collection of paintings, ephemera etc. From women's civil section. Includes paintings by then 15 year old Joan Hanson subsequent resident Western Australia and letter of provenance signed by the…

'Prisoner of War! Did Your Careless Chatter Put Him There!',…

Careless Chatter: POW Consequences

'Prisoner of War! Did Your Careless Chatter Put Him There!', artwork by Ralph M. Warner (Australian, 1902-1966), colour process lithographic poster, signed in image centre right, backed on linen. Condition: C. 51 x 38 cm. Text continues 'Issued by Hq Vic.…