Prisoner of War Puzzle Box

This carved wooden book box was found in Europe and dates to the mid 1930s to early 1940s. The spine of the box has the name "Maria" finely carved into it. The front of the box depicts a relief carved military man in the bottom corner looking up at a carved portrait of a woman floating in clouds, at the top of the box. Between the two "lovers" is a barbed wire fence running diagonally up the box towards a prison-type watchtower. Pine trees are carved into the left side of the box close to the wire fence. This box has strong emotional content as well as a great folk art quality to the carving. The spine of the "book" can be slid down which allows one end of the box to slide open revealing a compartment big enough for letters or small photographs. It measures 5" wide by 8" tall by 1 1/4" deep. Click on images to enlarge. $ 250.00