Knockaloe bone vase
Date made: 1916
Description: One of a pair of carved beef bone vases, with a polished two tier shaped wooden base, made in Knockaloe Civilian Internment Camp by an unknown internee. A single flower (simple tulip design) is hand carved in bas relief on the front of the vase with a decorative twisted rope border around the top rim and a decorative patterned base. 'With Best Wishes' and '1916' is carved on the sides with a bird carrying a letter in its beak and cornflowers (the German national flower). The hollow bone vase is attached to the base by a wooden plug screwed to the base. The remains of chalk written notes can be seen on the base.
Background:
During the First World War (1914-1918) the Isle of Man was used as an internment base for civilian ‘enemy aliens’. They were held 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. Other historic names referring to the camp include Knockaloe P.O.W. Camp, Knockaloe Prisoner of War Camp and Knockaloe Alien Detention Camp. The confinement of the prisoners led to specific behavioural issues known as ‘barbed wire disease’. Receiving its name from the aimless promenading of inmates up and down the barbed-wire boundary, other symptoms included moroseness and avoidance of others. It was decided that providing practical stimulation would help. The Friends’ Emergency Committee (a Quaker organisation) based in Great Britain was invited to the Island from 1915 onwards with the aim of providing books, tools, equipment and materials for the inmates to work and establish workshops.
Measurements: Whole: 19.3 x 10 x 8.2 cm
Object name: Vase
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 1999-0182/2
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS
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