French Napoleonic Prisoner of War Small Carved Bone Knife Possibly used as a Letter Opener c1810

Here on offer is an original French Napoleonic Prisoner of War small carved bone knife, that was probably made to be used as letter opener or just a miniature butter knife.

The French POWs to trade with locals for money or food, circa 1810.

This beautifully hand carved bone knife would have been most probably made from a section of cow bone that was easily available in the POW camps at the time.

This piece came as part of a small collection of French POW items I managed to acquired, including a miniature bone bed and a pair of miniature leather riding boots.

During the Napoleonic Wars, 1803 to 1815, Britain held a significant number of French prisoners of war, exceeding 100,000, with many held in prison hulks, purpose-built prisons like Dartmoor, and parole towns. Officers were often granted parole, allowing them greater freedom within designated areas, while lower-ranking soldiers and sailors were typically confined to hulks or prisons.

A rare and fine example of French POW work that is now over 200 years old!

It measures 4.4” (11.2cm) long with a 2.25” (5.7cm) blade and weighs 10g.

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: 50400