WW2 Italian POW made Aluminium Trench Art Cigarette Case - EGYPT

Here on offer is a WW2 Italian POW made aluminium trench art sweetheart cigarette case.

I have been told that these sweetheart cigarette cases where made by Italian POW's captured by the British Forces in North Africa in WW2.

I believe they were traded for food and cigarettes by the Italian POW’s.

The POW Camp at Fayid, Egypt was one of the last camps to have its inmates repatriated in 1948.

The cases where made using the aluminium frames of downed aircraft from the North African front.
Each case was then individually hand engraved and therefore each one is unique!

The front of this fine example has detailed pierced images of a Mosque with red and blue celluloid round windows, set against a dark blue and red “sun ray” sky. Some of the aluminium is just showing through the blue celluloid, please see photos.

The back of the case has an image of the African continent in the middle, against a cut out sunray, with a blue background. The image of Africa has an Egyptian pyramid, a palm tree and a rising sun engraved on the front.
Also, on the back of the case is engraved the word EYGPT.

Inside the case, on both sides, it has been engraved with ornate floral images. On one side it also has the raised image of a heart with a red coloured celluloid centre, where a photo can be inserted at the top

It also retains the original lugs and a slightly over stretched elastic strap. These are rare to find and would have been used to hold the cigarettes in place.

The case is opened by pressing an aluminium catch at the edge of the case, which still works perfectly as does the hinge.

The case itself is in really excellent condition with no cracks or splits, just a few very light surface scratches through use.

The aluminium has a nice smooth feel and a shiny polished bright finish.

It measures 5.75” (14.7cm) wide, 3.25” (8.3cm) high and 0.6” (1.5cm) thick.

It weighs 136g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Code: 51070