Knockaloe bone vase
Date made: 1916
Description: One of a pair of carved beef bone vases, with polished shaped wooden bases, made in Knockaloe Civilian Internment Camp by an unknown internee. A single flower (stylised flower with leaves) is hand carved in bas relief on the front of the vase with an overlapping '1916' carved underneath. There is a simple carved band around rim, with a series of small holes drilled into it. 'Ko'aloe' is carved on the back of the vase with three small birds in flight. The design of the birds and lettering is similar to Archibald Knox, Baillie Scott and Charles Rennie Mackintosh designs. The hollow bone vase is attached to the base by a wooden plug nailed to the base.
The bone vases were given to donor's father, Mr John Armstrong.
Internees were held on the Isle of Man in two camps, a requisitioned holiday camp in Douglas and a purpose built camp located at Knockaloe near Peel on the west coast of the Island. These held at their peaks over 4,000 and 23,000 men in some cases for nearly five years between opening in 1914 and final closure in 1919. Over 30,000 men passed through Knockaloe between 1914 and 1917, more than the population of Douglas the largest town.
Measurements: overall: 24.6 cm x 9 cm x 9.5 cm
Materials: mammal bone, steel, wood
Object name: vase
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 1988-0327/2
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS