Napoleonic Prisoner of War Bone Carving Spinning Jenny

Description

Heading : Napoleonic Prisoner of War bone carving spinning jenny formed of bone
Date : Early 19th century
Period : George III / Regency / Napoleonic
Origin : England – most likely made in a prison hulk  or barrack
Decoration : Carved bone and string in the form of a spinning jenny with female figure with reticulated arms.
Size : 9.2cm height, 5.3cm x 4.4cm base
Condition : Very good, some discolouration and the mechanism is a little clunky, though still fully functional. Her arms move, the head turns and bobs as the crank is turned and the wheels turn
Restoration : None detected
Weight : 41 grams

The Napoleonic Wars heralded a new and appalling era for the handling of prisoners of war. A gentlemanly code of exchange and return had existed prior to the French Revolution, known as cartels. This broke down with the end of the Ancien Regime and Napoleon refused to return even non-combatants in the fear that any able-bodied Brit could don a red coat.

Consequently the system of cartels all but ended and vast numbers of prisoners were kept by both sides, often for more than a decade. Officers, naturally, enjoyed limited freedoms, with French officers often billeting with wealthy families and enjoying most freedoms afforded to the gentry, and British officers enjoying gentlemen’s clubs and gambling houses all over France.

For the common soldier or sailor, however, life in captivity was a dehumanising hell on earth. Most French prisoners were kept in prison hulks (ships), or barracks in cramped conditions with insufficient clothing, food, and water. One of the ships used was HMS Temeraire – later immortalised by Turner.

With necessity being the mother of invention and boredom being ubiquitous the prisoners sought diversion through creativity. What bone and straw they could save was turned into a number of wares including boxes, model guillotines, and other curios such as this very spinning jenny, which could then be sold on to the public, or gambling items such as dice and dominoes for use in captivity.