Treatment and rehabilitation in the early 20th century: Kareau figure

This theme reveals different cultures’ approaches to managing health and recovery in the time of the First World War.

Watch our Visitor Experience Assistants Hannah and Becky talk about this carved wooden figure from our collections, exploring its close connection with health, physicality and spirituality.

Use the information and activity sheets to explore the object’s history and health links more deeply. Both sheets are differentiated to three levels of ability for Year 9 History students.

Kareau Figure Information Sheet

Kareau Activity Sheet

More from Themed thinking

Health and belief in the early 20th century: Good-luck charms

Exploring good-luck charms that soldiers took to the battlefields with them.

Treatment and rehabilitation in the early 20th century: A French underground hospital at Verdun

Looking at a battlefield-hospital scene and helping us explore the idea of shell shock.

Health and belief in the early 20th century: Evil-eye amulet necklace

Exploring the protective qualities of a necklace amulet and how it can link to good health.

Treatment and rehabilitation in the early 20th century: Prosthetic limb

Exploring the history and health links of a prosthetic arm made for an injured soldier.

Health and belief in the early 20th century: Fakir’s sandals

Explore the history and health links of a pair of wooden spiked sandals from our collections. The sandals originated in India and were worn to demonstrate religious devotion.