Napkin ring
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn48059
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Napkin ring : cast (moulded), beveled, engraved, silver plated ? : silver ; Ht: 3,2 cm
- Date
- [Prior to 1943]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Napkin ring : cast (moulded), beveled, engraved, silver plated ? : silver ; Ht: 3,2 cm
- Other Title Information
- Food Service T&E
- Date
- [Prior to 1943]
- Physical Condition
- Good
- Notes
- Ring with beveled edges at the top and bottom. Just below the top and bottom edges is a thin trench. The main surface, which is between the 2 trenches, is engraved with curved s-like lines, with a pointed oval in the middle, and a dot on the top and bottom; the design is repeated around the circumference, until it meets in the middle: In the middle is an ornate filgree design (see inscription). Narrative: Sophia van Dam (born 1874-04-08, maiden name van Hessen, Dutch nationality) and her husband Levie van Dam (b. 1866-11-02, Dutch nationality) lived at Hooftstr. 176, in Leens (Groningen province, The Netherlands). They owned a clothing store which they sold when they retired. In 1943, the Germans came to arrest them. They were to be sent to the Westerbork transit camp (Drente province). The Van Dams were already in their seventies and Mrs Van Dam was not well. They were given two weeks’ notice before their transfer to Westerbork. During that time, they distributed their belongings to their non-Jewish friends and neighbours, for safekeeping. This napkin ring was given to their neighbors Jelte and Jantina Bolt; their daughter Henderika (the donor's mother) was nine years old and remembers the gift. The van Dams were committed to Westerbork transit camp (The Netherlands) on 1943-03-09, and transferred East on 1943-03-17 (destination not indicated - cf. Arolsen Archives). It is believed they were deported to the Sobibor killing centre and killed there, or that they may have died during the transport. Jelte and Jantina Bolt kept this napkin ring throughout the war and then gave it to their daughter, Henderika, who brought it with her when she immigrated to Canada in 1953. Henderika then gave it to her own daughter, Linda.
- Accession No.
- 2009.13.09
- Name Access
- Vreedenberg, Linda
- Places
- Leens, Netherlands, Europe
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
{{ server.message }}