TOPIC:

I have recently purchased a wooden carved tea caddy (it could be something else) from Germany.
It is carved with 1901-1902 - Pragt Maakt Magt - Boer Camp - Diyatalawa Ceylon.
The carving on the front appears to represent an Imperial Russian Eagle with flags over / around a Lion, Man and cart.
I understand that five prisoners escaped to Russia and eventually made it back home via Germany and Holland. Could this have been carved by one of them?
Does anyone know the names of the five who escaped?
Does anyone have any information or knowledge about this item?

Davidtags
The carving you mention looks very much like the Coat of Arms seen on (Transvaal) Boer badges and not anything like that of Russia. Prisoner made item and no doubt highly sought after today.
Regards
IL.

Many thanks for your quick response and information. Most helpful.
Do you have any idea of likely value?

These tobacco jars were often produced in pairs, one with the arms of the Transvaal and the other with those of the Orange Free State.
The lettering would have originally been filled with gold paint, though this rarely survives.







Close-up showing traces of gold paint on the edges of the lettering.




..

Thanks again. Do you know what Herengracht maakt Magt means? I could not manage to translate it.

The Transvaal motto was the Dutch "Eendragt maakt Magt" or "Eendracht maakt Macht", which loosely translates as "Unity is Strength".