Beautiful Italian POW made Aluminium WW2 Trench Art ‘Sweetheart’ Jewellery Box – Egypt/Africa

Here on offer is an Italian POW made aluminium WW2 trench art ‘Sweetheart’ jewellery box.

I have been told that these sweetheart boxes were made by Italian POW's captured by the British Forces in North Africa in WW2. Apparently, 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 jewellery boxes were made using the aluminium frames of downed aircraft from the North African front.

Each box was then individually hand engraved and therefore each one is unique!

This octagonal shaped aluminium box has on the top, a pierced image of a Mosque with red, black and blue circular windows and gold doors, set against a red starburst sky.

On the front edge of the box is the hand engraved image of two pyramids and the word ‘AFRIKA’, both the sides have an image of a palm tree and the back depicts the engraved image of the Scottish flag. Therefore, I assume the person for who this was made was Scottish?

The remaining four angled corners have a star image set with small blue and red circles.

Inside, underneath the hinged lid it is engraved with a message of love:
TO MY STAR EYES
THE SWEETEST
GIRL OF ALL

The inside of the box is padded and lined with a red silk material, that is now slightly faded.

The bottom is fitted with four black plastic supporting feet.

The box itself is in excellent condition with no cracks or splits, just a few very light surface scratches through use. The aluminium has a nice smooth feel and almost shiny finish.

It measures 5” (12.7cm) by 3.4” (8.6cm) and is 1.75” (4.4cm) tall.

It weighs 180g.

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: 51625