Napoleonic French Prisoner of War Finely Carved and Detailed Scale Model of a 124 Gun First Rate Ship of the Line

Epoque: 1800-1900

Origine: England

Medium: Wood, Bone, hair, polychrome and brass

Literature: There is a description of the Napoleonic prison artists at work by an American prisoner of war, George Little… ‘The French’, he writes ‘brought themselves systematically to some pursuit; they manufactured a variety of articles such as bone work of various descriptions, instruments of music, miniature ships and straw plait for bonnets, which were bought up by the country people or exchanged for their produce.’ Considerable rewards seemed to await the successful bone worker. Little goes on ‘these French prisoners had become so thoroughly reconciled to their situation (some of them having been here six and eight years) that their minds appeared to be wholly occupied with gain. I knew many of them, who, when peace was effected between France and England have saved from one to two thousand guineas and there were some who did not actually wish to leave the prison’.