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WWI Turkish Prisoner of War Fully Beaded Snake

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:125.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 800.00 USD
WWI Turkish Prisoner of War Fully Beaded Snake
Featured in this lot is this WW I Turkish prisoner of war fully beaded snake circa 1914-1918. The snake features a wonderfully and professionally crafted beaded and braided twine construction. The snake shows a white beaded belly with a green top and zig zagging arrangement of red and blue beads. Drawing on the rich tradition of textile crafts in the Ottoman Empire, Turkish soldiers incarcerated in British prison camps in the Middle East during and immediately after World War I made a variety of beadwork items to relieve the boredom of their prolonged imprisonment and to barter or sell for food and other amenities. Best known are the bead crochet snakes and lizards, but the prisoners also used loomed and netting techniques to produce necklaces, belts, purses, and other small items. The condition of this beaded snake is good with some of the beaded sections worn off but otherwise shows good overall condition. The measurements of this beaded snake is 61" long.