Rare Prisoner of War POW Cigarette Case RAF Egypt made from plane wreckage WW2

This is an extremely rare and highly desirable World War Two work of art in the form of a cigarette case made by a Prisoner of War (POW).

This is not the usual, common brass piece often made using spent shells but a greyish metal – most likely from an aeroplane as explained in the images provided above.

Prisoners of War would use pieces of downed/crashed aircraft to cut and engrave items such as these which they could exchange or sell with their prison guards.

This is a genuine handmade Prisoner of War artefact made in the prison camp with scarce materials available.

It is an absolute rarity & historical piece from the Second World War.

The front is a cut out silhouette of a mosque typical of those found in Egypt.

It has been hand etched/inscribed on the inside as follows:

“Africa 1947
RAF Deversoir”

Please note that RAF Deversoir was established as an RAF base in 1930 (see text from Wikipedia above).

Next to the above inscription is a beautiful crisp engraving of two pyramids with a palm tree on one side and a sun-burst top right.

On the opposite panel is a delightful engraving of a woman dancing.

The back panel has also been cut out to form an image of Africa flanked on each side with a palm tree.

The dark brown material in the background of each of the two cut out panels appears to be the fibrous bark of a palm tree.

This amazing antique cigarette case springs open and clicks closed nice and tightly – a delightful bit of engineering!

There is only one band to hold the cigarettes in place as intended because there is no slot for another band at the top.
It measures 14cm x 8cm x 1.5cm.

Just imagine who would have been using this wonderful work of art in the desert just after World War Two!

The £2 coin is NOT included in this sale.

Please have a look at my other POW item listed this week.

We are always coming across rare and unusual antiques through our contacts and networks of dealers and collectors built up over 30 years.
Keep checking our listings of feel free to drop us a message if you are looking for anything specific.