Dieppe Carved Bone Armorial Mirror Second half 19th century. The beveled oval mirror plate within a frame of overlapping carved bone leaves surmounted by a crest with a heraldic crowned sword above the motto 'Sgotorum' (of the Scots) flanked by sea monsters. 34in. (87cm) h. 20in (51cm) w. Provenance: Stamp on reverse: 20th C. Fox 3-10-43 Dieppe was also an important military prison, maintained by the British during the Napoleonic wars. Thousands of captured French naval and military were secured there, all in need of things to do. Convicts were encouraged to make decorative boxes, figures, military-related sculptures, and decorative furniture such as this Dieppe mirror to occupy their time in a productive manner. The output of their labour was sold in the Friday prison markets.