TOPIC:

I would be grateful for any thoughts on the following:-

I recently purchased this wooden pot with a screw top, 3" high and 2.5" diameter. The lid is carved with an image of Kruger dated 1902 and the words Herman Schmid Roslin Castle. The side bears the word Andennabbia or possibly Endennabbia (the first letter is uncertain).





The wood suggests a Bermuda Boer Pow origin to me and according to Colin Benbow's book Boer Prisoners of War in Bermuda, the Roslin Castle transported 386 ex-POWs from Bermuda, sailing to Cape Town on 29th July 1902. I have not identified Herman Schmid in any of the Boer POW lists as yet and would be grateful for any pointers to his identity or the meaning of Endenabbia

Could the word be Cadenabbia? Blackletter script is hard to deciper.
Though I have no clue how it connects to the war...
"Cadenabbia is a small community in Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Como, on the west shore of Lake Como"

Hi Rob
I also came up with Cadenabbia via Google but couldn't think of a connection either. There are no Schmids on the ABO medal roll.

Hi Paul,

I would say definitely “Cadenabbia” (based on the "C" used for Birmingham 1826 hallmarks).

Could he have been a member of Camillio Ricchiardi's Italian Corps? Although the name Schmid suggests a man with German heritage, this spelling (Schmid rather than Schmidt) is also found in Switzerland, whose southern border is only 10 miles from Lake Como.

Or is it is a late nineteenth century tourist piece from Lake Como that was later carved by its owner during the ABW? See below.


eBay - “Antique Italian Wood Dice Pot with screw top & 2 dice; marked Cadenabbia”


Neville

Nice one Neville

Pete