A souvenir from Muzillac?

[anteros_lmc]

This charming ornamental piece is currently being auctioned my Charles Miller Ltd. It’s described as “a French prisoner-of-war-style bone and wood model guillotine with bound and shackled victim lashed to a table, with detachable head mechanism corresponding with blade, supported on a strawwork base with glass dome cover.” The piece is expected to

Comments

[eglantine_br]

I read somewhere that the French POW's made more art than the English. I do not remember why-- but certainly cannot imagine the conditions I read of in the Biche. etc, leading to art... although some people are driven to do art anywhere.

Did anyone else read or hear this? Do any of you remember why?

[anteros_lmc]

Hmm that's interesting. I haven't heard or read this before but I think you could be right. I'm at work just now but I'll get back to you on this tonight.

[eglantine_br]

Thanks. I may have heard in on 'Antiques Roadshow' or some silly place like that.

I know some POWs from WWII, made sketches or things to document their treatment, and I know that some who were treated better made small things to sell. But I cannot imagine someone in Archie's position waking up and saying "guess I'll make a sculpture."

[anteros_lmc]

I think you're absolutely right. I know French POW pieces and scrimshaw work by serving British seamen come up at auction frequently and are very collectible. (There's a beautiful French made bone ship in Culzean Castle) But I have never seen anything made by a British POW. From what I've read, it sounds like they are all too busy trying to escape. It's impossible to imagine that prisoners at Bitche had the inclination to create art. But having said that, I suspect that conditions on board the British prison hulks were scarecely less grim. And art can certainly be used to transcend captivity and suffering.

I have just acquired two books that may shed some light on this,when ever I get round to reading them. One is an account by Louis Garneray, French marine artist and privateer, of the eight years he spent confined on the Portsmouth prison hulks from 1806 - 1814. And I also have an overview of all the British prisoners held in France from 1803 - 1814, which includes a list of name, rank and fate of all officer-class naval and

[eglantine_br]

I would like that. Prison hulks...blegh! They freak me out especially somehow. I can see from my dog-walking park, (across the street from me, basically,) where Americans were held on the 'Jersey.' Apparently, once the war had ended bones washed up for years.

[anteros_lmc]

I know what you mean, grim as Bitche clearly was, there is something nightmarish about the prison hulks. Makes me shiver to think of them.

I hadn't heard of the Jersey before. Did some digging and it sounds horrendous :/