WW2 Featherston Prison camp New Zealand Japanese Prisoner of War carved Kauri snake. The snake is typical of snake POW carvings made by the Japanese POWs at Featherston POW camp in Wairarapa that were traded with the guards for cigarettes and other items. My Great uncle was a guard at the same camp and I own a piece also made by a Japanese POW at the camp. The snake has been made using native New Zealand Kauri. One eye has inlaid shell, the other eye is missing the shell, but this is easily replaced. The base has 5 old borer holes that I can see, the base has been made from 2 separate pieces on the bottom and another 2 separate pieces on top of the base (the POWs would have to make do with what they could find or was possibly supplied to them by the guards. The top part of the snake may have been repaired of may have been separately made and joined. The side of the snake has 2 cuts or cracks.  The snake is 22cm high and 14.6cm x 14.8cm across the base.

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