Have I mentioned that I love all kinds of history including military history.
And, I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to work in a business where everything that I touch, wear, appraise and sell, has a history. Of course I don't always know the provenance of a piece of estate jewelry or object d'art, but I appreciate the fact that every piece has a story behind it.
Take this sterling silver cigarette case for example.
I am rarely enamored with inanimate objects but there is something about this specific item that moves me.
Let's start with the top. You can see from the photo that the case is engraved with a map of Burma with the names of the major cities. Ten of those cities, including Rangoon and Mandalay, are emphasized by flush set Burma rubies.
The back of the case is engraved
India 1945
Burma 43-44-45
China 45
Obviously, we all know what was going on in these countries during these years.
Then we have the interior which is engraved
Helen From Jim
Who was Helen? And more importantly, who was Jim? Was he an Aussi, an American or a Brit? Was he an officer, a diplomat, a businessman, a reporter or a spy? Who did he know? What did he witness during the war years?
When I hold this case in my hand I have the inexplicable feeling that there is a Somerset Maugham quality story of love and loss connected with it.
So much happened in Burma during 1943,1944 and 1945
and of course so much has happened since.
And on the topic, last weekend's Wall Street Journal listed five of the best books with first hand accounts of WW2 and Quartered Safe Out There: A Harrowing Tale Of World War II by George Macdonald Fraser was on their list.
Here's what WSJ reviewer Andrew Roberts had to say about the book.
George MacDonald Fraser, British author of the Flashman series of novels, fought in the 17th (Black Cat) Indian Division of the 14th Army during the siege of Meiktila and the battle of Pyawbwe in Burma. He believed, probably correctly, that soldiering in Burma rivaled flying in the RAF's Bomber Command as "the worst ticket you could draw in the lottery of active service." This was so not just because of the Japanese enemy; there were also 15-inch poisonous centipedes, malaria, "spiders the size of plates," typhus, jungle sores on the wrists and ankles, dysentery, and leeches. In terse, unsentimental language, Fraser's superb war memoir, "Quartered Safe Out Here," relates how the soldiers in his close-knit company fought their battles, mourned their friends and simply tried to survive from day to day.
Perhaps Jim fought with 17th Black Cat Indian Division.
I wish that I knew.
Home
»
books
»
burma
»
history
»
military history
»
wall street journal
» If This Box Could Talk - The Stories It Could Tell
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Popular Posts
-
Natalie Diko Miss Universe-Sweden/Malmö Natalie Diko - 20 år - 169cm - 56kg PHOTO GALLERY Special thanks and credits to www.missuniverse-swe...
-
contact lenses and dry eyes picture contact lenses and dry eyes picture contact lenses and dry eyes picture contact lenses and dry eyes pict...
-
The Food Pyramid has so to say 'evolved' over the years. So why isn't it on the pyramid? It was put on the base of the food pyra...
-
Miss Earth-Air 2010 Victoria of Russia Miss Earth 2010 and Miss Earth-Air 2010 source: (Thank you and credits to clearskysunset: http://www....
-
Kim Kardashian Bikini Kim Kardashian Bikini Pics Bikini Pictures of Kim Kardashian . Kim Kardashian is an American celebutante...
-
Paris Hilton Scarlett Johansson Marilyn Monroe Megan Fox Marilyn Monroe Kate Moss Jessica Alba Angelina Jolie Christina Aguilera Emma Watso...
-
Ouça, “Scheibe” o remix que Lady Gaga fez para a marca Thierry Mugler. Lady GaGa - Scheibe (Thierry Mugler Remix) martes 1 de febrero de 201...
-
Keity Mendieta (20), a student and model from Panama City, was crowned Miss International Panama 2011 during a press conference held at the ...
-
I think I may have a new addiction - Loralei stamps! The Loralei stamps are a product of Loralei Productions. While in Chicago at CHA I m...