Items Similar to Napoleonic Prisoner-of-War Guillotine

Off With Their Heads (Or Just the Cigar Tips): Brass Guillotine Cutter

Victorian Wooden Scale Model Crane, circa 1880

Model of a Baling Machine by Roberts Liverpool, England

A seed scale model, France 1830.

Marching Military Soldiers Mechanical Toy

Late 19th Century Napoleonic Prisoner of War Dominos

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 10

Napoleonic Prisoner-of-War Guillotine

$39,850

£30,359.61

€35,005.85

CA$55,769.27

A$62,312.87

CHF 32,596.54

MX$764,155.47

NOK 416,521.88

SEK 394,973.08

DKK 261,267.41

Shipping

Retrieving quote...

The 1stDibs Promise:

Authenticity Guarantee,

Money-Back Guarantee,

24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

An incredible and extremely rare artifact of world history, this mutton bone model of a guillotine was created during the Napoleonic wars by a French prisoner of war. Many of the inmates at the prisoner of war camps were skilled artisans long before they were soldiers, and because of the long duration of the conflict and cost of care, their captors encouraged detainees to use their skills to create objects to be sold at civilian open markets. Because of the intricacy of these fascinating objets d'art, very few of these models have survived the test of time. This masterpiece is impeccably detailed with soldiers and cannons lining the platforms. Adding to the rarity of this piece is that it has moving parts, as only a scant few model carvings were ever created with such mechanical accuracy. The soldiers have movable arms, while the guillotine features a movable "blade" for added authenticity. By many accounts, Napoleonic prisoners of war were confined to mostly makeshift prisons in old castles, naval dockyards and purpose built camps. Though treated fairly well, prisoners were typically kept in rather dark conditions and were not allowed to have objects that could be used as weapons, including tools. That means inmates would have had to create these amazing models using handmade tools made of whatever was available, including shards of glass for carving. Additionally, this activity was most likely done by candlelight. With this perspective, the precision and intricacy of this model becomes even more incredible. Circa 1810 Measures: 7 5/8" wide x 10 1/4" deep x 18" high With stand: 9 1/2" wide x 11 3/4" deep x 20 1/2" high.

Dimensions:
Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)Width: 7.63 in (19.39 cm)Depth: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Bone,Hand-Carved
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1810
Condition:
Seller Location:
New Orleans, LA
Reference Number:
Seller: 31-51041stDibs: LU891129946442

More From This Seller

View All

Mermod Fréres Station Cylinder Music Box

By Mermod Frères 1

Located in New Orleans, LA

This exceptionally wonderful and rare automaton cylinder musical box by the Mermod Fréres firm of Sainte-Croix, Switzerland is a marvel of musical crafts...

Category

Antique 19th Century Swiss Other Musical Instruments

Materials

Walnut

Mermod Fréres Station Cylinder Music Box

$128,500

Monumental Three-Train Bracket Clock by J.C. Jennens & Sons

Located in New Orleans, LA

This intricately detailed 19th-century bracket clock from famed English firm J.C. Jennens & Sons is monumental in size, likely made for one of the great world exhibitions or perhaps to put in the firm's own store window. The eight-day timepiece has a triple fusee...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Monumental Three-Train Bracket Clock by J.C. Jennens & Sons

$188,500

Mandolin Singing Bird Automaton Music Box

Located in New Orleans, LA

This exceptional singing bird cylinder music box is a wonder of Austrian mechanical ingenuity. Not only does it play a selection of classical airs with remarkable tone and clarity, but its lush sound is accompanied by a colorful, singing bird automaton...

Category

Antique 19th Century Austrian Other Musical Instruments

Materials

Satinwood

Mandolin Singing Bird Automaton Music Box

$48,500

Polyphon Autochange Disk Music Box

Located in New Orleans, LA

As exceptionally scarce as it is fascinating, this autochange disk player by the Polyphon Musikwerke in Leipzig, Germany can change between six disks and play with the incredibly rare addition of bells that accompany the music. Before a coin is dropped into the slot, slide the brass indicator until it points to the desired music selection, insert a penny, and the chosen song will play automatically. An extremely limited number of these automatic disk changers were ever created, and even fewer have survived in such outstanding condition. Standing over seven feet tall, this particular model boasts a magnificent walnut case with handsome burl panels on its original, matching storage cabinet. A true technical marvel for its day, Polyphon’s automatic disk changer symbolizes pure ingenuity and superlative craftsmanship. This antique player...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century German Other Musical Instruments

Materials

Brass

Polyphon Autochange Disk Music Box

$88,500

Raingo Orrery Clock

Located in New Orleans, LA

Orrery Clock Zacharie Raingo Circa 1817 This exceptional orrery clock represents one of the most historically significant and mechanically sophisticated ...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Raingo Orrery Clock

$445,000

Chimes of Normandy Musical Clock

Located in New Orleans, LA

Chimes of Normandy Musical Clock Early 20th Century A masterpiece of horology and woodworking, the Chimes of Normandy Clock exemplifies early 20th-cent...

Category

Early 20th Century Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Oak

Chimes of Normandy Musical Clock

$38,500

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Brass

Off With Their Heads (Or Just the Cigar Tips): Brass Guillotine Cutter

$3,000

Victorian Wooden Scale Model Crane, circa 1880

Located in London, GB

Unusual large scale model of a late Victorian crane, circa 1880. Beautifully constructed in mahogany with brass binding and details and the original working metal winch and chains, a...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Brass

Victorian Wooden Scale Model Crane, circa 1880

$6,575

Model of a Baling Machine by Roberts Liverpool, England

Located in London, GB

An impressive model of a press or baling machine. The carcase is in mahogany while the working parts are in brass and steel. The goods to be pressed or baled are loaded in to the black containers...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Models and Miniatures

Materials

Brass, Steel

Model of a Baling Machine by Roberts Liverpool, England

$2,526

A seed scale model, France 1830.

Located in Milan, IT

Rare model of scale for seeds. Wooden and iron. France 1830 ca.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

A seed scale model, France 1830.

$2,368

Marching Military Soldiers Mechanical Toy

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Antique mechanical toy ambitiously crafted with a metal mechanism moved by a crank in the back, sending civil war union soldiers, carved in pine...

Category

Early 20th Century American Campaign Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Marching Military Soldiers Mechanical Toy

$3,600

Late 19th Century Napoleonic Prisoner of War Dominos

Located in London, GB

Late 19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war dominos 31 A good example of a late 19th Century Napoleonic prisoner of war (POW) hand carved set of 31 dominos, in a sliding painted ...

Category