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ID #SA1241555
FOR SALE
£425
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Turkish Prisoner of War Beadwork Snake. 6ft Ottoman Ww1. Hand Made 1918.
For sale by Krave Antiques
for sale €497     $540
£425
Krave Antiques

Krave Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Aug 2019
Browse dealers 100 items
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    Krave antiques are an online retailer that specialise in finding rare and unique items that you will fall in love with
Id #SA1241555
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Turkish Prisoner of War Beadwork Snake. 6ft Ottoman Ww1. Hand Made 1918.

1900 - 1920
For Sale by Krave Antiques
Description

This sought after Ottoman Turkish Prisoner of War beadwork snake which dates from the first world war era measures nearly 6 ft in length and has the words Turkish Prisoners 1918.

Craft items such as this snake would have been made by an Ottoman Turkish prisoner held captive during WW1 to pass the time and to earn money for extra food etc.

Snakes were a symbol of good luck in parts of south east Europe.

This fabulous snake is made of hand crocheted brightly coloured glass beads, has an open mouth, letter A under the chin, long tail and has the words Turkish Prisoners 1918 on it's white belly.

This desirable WW1 Prisoner of War snake which is in excellent condition would make a very nice collector's piece.

Material: Glass beads.

Date: 1918.

Dimensions: Length: 177 cm (70").

Weight: 360 g.

Condition: Excellent antique condition with only light signs of use in keeping with age. The beadwork is nice and bright with only a few missing beads. Please see pictures.

Please note that only the snake is included and any other items in the pictures are for scale only.

Physical Dimensions
Height
177cm (69.69")
Declaration

Krave Antiques has dated this Ottoman Pow Beadwork Snake to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1241555
Dealers Internal Reference
TPBS3723
Dealers Notes

_____________

Please look at our website for our full stock of antiques and purchase direct www.kraveantiques.co.uk

If you have any further questions about this item please feel free to message us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

For your convenience we offer Free UK delivery on most items.

We ship worldwide. Please contact us for a quote.

Description
This sought after Ottoman Turkish Prisoner of War beadwork snake which dates from the first world war era measures nearly 6 ft in length and has the words Turkish Prisoners 1918.
“
Craft items such as this snake would have been made by an Ottoman Turkish prisoner held captive during WW1 to pass the time and to earn money for extra food etc.
Krave Antiques
fig 1. A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body.
fig 1. Turkish Prisoner of War Beadwork Snake. 6ft Ottoman Ww1. Hand Made 1918.

Snakes were a symbol of good luck in parts of south east Europe.

This fabulous snake is made of hand crocheted brightly coloured glass beads, has an open mouth, letter A under the chin, long tail and has the words Turkish Prisoners 1918 on it's white belly.

fig 2. A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body.
fig 2. Turkish Prisoner of War Beadwork Snake. 6ft Ottoman Ww1. Hand Made 1918.

This desirable WW1 Prisoner of War snake which is in excellent condition would make a very nice collector's piece.

Material: Glass beads.

Date: 1918.

Dimensions: Length: 177 cm (70").

Weight: 360 g.

Condition: Excellent antique condition with only light signs of use in keeping with age. The beadwork is nice and bright with only a few missing beads. Please see pictures.

Please note that only the snake is included and any other items in the pictures are for scale only.

Height
177cm (69.69")
Date of Manufacture

Krave Antiques has dated this Ottoman Pow Beadwork Snake to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1241555
Dealers Internal Ref
TPBS3723
Krave Antiques
Krave Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Aug 2019

Krave antiques are an online retailer that specialise in finding rare and unique items that you will fall in love with

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Krave Antiques Profile Page

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A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body.
1 / 15
Archive I A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body.

Turkish Prisoner of War Beadwork Snake. 6ft Ottoman Ww1. Hand Made 1918.

Archive II A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View II
Archive III A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View III
Archive IV A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View IV
Archive V A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View V
Archive VI A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View VI
Archive VII A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View VII
Archive VIII A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View VIII
Archive IX A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View IX
Archive X A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View X
Archive XI A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View XI
Archive XII A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View XII
Archive XIII A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View XIII
Archive XIV A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View XIV
Archive XV A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body. View XV
Enlarged Archival View
Krave Antiques

Krave Antiques
Telephone 07484 851259
Location
Peasedown St John
Bath
Somerset
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/kraveantiques
Verified Since Aug 2019
Items For Sale 100
Items Sold 558
Krave Antiques
Krave Antiques
Verified Since Aug 2019
View Dealer Info
Location: Peasedown St John, Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/kraveantiques
Verified
Aug 2019
For Sale
100
Sold
558
A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body.
Turkish Prisoner of War Beadwork Snake. 6ft Ottoman WW1. Hand Made 1918.
Ref: SA1241555
A long, hand-crafted glass beadwork snake with white, olive green, and red geometric patterns coiled into a spiral, featuring text reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 woven into its body.
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDecorative Objects
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleOttoman Folk Art
  • MaterialGlass Beads, Cotton Thread, Fabric
  • ColourWhite, Olive Green, Red
  • MotifsCrocheted glass seed beads, woven lettering, open mouth detail, zig-zag skin pattern
  • SizeH 177 cm (70 in)

This Ottoman folk art decorative object is a hand-crafted glass beadwork snake dating from 1910. The snake is composed of hand-crocheted glass seed beads threaded on cotton, displaying a zig-zag skin pattern in white, olive green, and red, with woven black lettering reading TURKISH PRISONERS 1918 along the white belly, an open mouth detail with a brown fabric interior, a letter under the chin, and a long tapered tail. The snake measures 177 cm long, weighs 360 g, and remains in excellent antique condition with light signs of use and a few missing beads. In a modern interior, this piece serves as a striking decorative object for display on a bookshelf, tabletop, or within a gentleman's library. It brings historical interest and tactile texture to a home setting while functioning as a conversation piece that reflects the hand-made folk art traditions of the First World War period.

FAQs

During First World War internment, Ottoman Turkish prisoners produced crocheted beadwork objects, particularly snakes, to trade or sell to British soldiers and guards for money or essential supplies.

These items were crafted using glass seed beads threaded onto cotton string, which were then woven or crocheted around a central core to form a flexible, tubular body with a shaped head and tail.

Genuine period pieces frequently feature dates or lettering, such as TURKISH PRISONERS, woven directly into the beadwork pattern, along with historical glass seed bead types and period-appropriate thread construction.

Display the object coiled inside a glass cloche, positioned flat within a shadow box frame, or layered on top of a bookshelf alongside historical books and curiosities.

Store the object away from direct sunlight to prevent thread degradation and colour fading, support the full length of the body to avoid tension on the cotton threads, and dust gently using a soft brush.
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