Rare WW2 Prisoner of War “Religious Shrine in a Bottle” DALLA PRIGIONNIA INDIA 1942

Here on offer is a rare example of a WW2 Italian Prisoner of War “Religious Alter in a Bottle” made in a POW Camp in India, possibly by or to Cercone. L and is dated 1942.

This is an incredible example of a “ship in a bottle”, style piece, but consists of a hand built religious alter with paper images, candles a cross and a candelabra hanging from the inside of the metal bottle cap.

The alter has been very skilfully placed inside an octangular shaped clear glass bottle, which makes it very difficult to get a clear picture.

The bottle was made in Melbourne, Australia by C.M. BROOKE & SONS.


Inscribed on the back of the alter are the words in Italian:

DALLA
PRIGIONNIA
INDIA
1942

CERCONE. L

This translates to “From The Prision India 1942”.

Now the name Cercone. L maybe the maker or the owner, I have no way of knowing?

Prisoners of War from various nations were interned in India in 29 camps forming 6 Groups of camps. In addition, there were two Civil Internment Camps at Dehradun and Deoli and one camp in Delhi for the Japanese prisoners captured in Burma.

Some 18,400 Italian prisoners of war (out of 50,000 requested by the Australian Government, to be employed as farm labourers) were transported from India to Australia from 1943. Some of the Italian POWs in India were shipped to South Africa to help build the railway there.

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a real piece of WW2 POW art that is of museum quality and just a work of art in its own right.

The bottle measures 9.25” (23.5cm) tall and is about 2.75” (7cm) diameter.

It weighs 410g.

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: 51331