Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Cased Model of U-99 Carved by an Inmate of Bowmanville POW Camp

(Grabenkunst U-Boot Modell). An interesting and possibly historically-significant U-Boat model, constructed of grey painted wood and hand-carved by a Kriegsmarine inmate incarcerated in Bowmanville POW camp (Camp 30), with details faithfully recreated and affixed to a pedestal, the obverse of which bears a hand-painted banner featuring an inscription of “BOWMANVILLE CAMP 1943” alongside a gilded button retrieved from a Kriegsmarine uniform, the U-Boat notably featuring the horseshoe insignia of U-99 (the vessel commanded by legendary U-Boat ace Otto Kretschmer, who was housed at the Bowmanville camp following his capture by the Royal Navy on 16 March 1941; Kretschmer was notably promoted to Fregattenkapitän and was awarded the Swords to his Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves while in captivity), concealed within a custom-fitted wooden display case with intact glass panels, measuring 41.5 cm (l) x 11 cm (w) x 25 cm (h), a fantastic example of POW camp art likely crafted by a crewman of the vessel under Kretschmer’s command, in extremely fine condition.