UBB.threads Forums General Interest Collector's Showcase Yes A Trench Art Thread

I know some of you guys aren't too fond of the trench art, but I like it. Some of you guys use models for filler and you guys are very good at that. As well as the SS porcelain. I like the trench art to set on the shelves with my helmets and such. I hope you like, here's a couple of pics. The first one is of two 75mm cannon shells, the battle of Verdun. Different styles but both neat. I see trench art from very exquisite to not so talented.

Steve.

Nice. I've seen a number of the Verdun shells through the years.

A piece of Russian trench art. Not seen too often here in the states. This was found outside of Stalingrad, it translates to something like " By heart to Volkov from Evtushenko during the patriotic war at the Narva beach head 1944 ". Hard to get good pics of it. It was probably some sort tobacco tin.

Steve.

I would like to see some of you guy's trench art as well.

Steve.

Trench art is cool. I have noticed that the really elaborate brass ones seem to be WWI as shown above. Perhaps that was because the static trench warfare allowed more time.

Dave

Show us more !

Hello, not trench art, but a pair of candlesticks my uncle made post WW-2 from 20 mm brass shells. He also made the bookcase in the first pic! Regards, Leizpig

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Thanks guys. This isn't just my thread, I hope others will join as well with pics. It is art and it's under-rated and under-valued in my opinion. Look what you can buy it for now, if you took the time to create that for how long with care and detail? Would you sell it for $40-75? 25 years ago you couldn't give the stuff away. I'll add more from my collection when I have time to take pics. I've seen a couple of pieces that were done in a scrimshaw style like you would see on a whale tooth. I buy what I like that I can afford when I see it, but it's not my area, I'm the bayonet guy. I do appreciate art in all forms. Thanks Roger for the pics. I always love to see trench art because every piece is different.

Steve.

Roger, sorry I forgot to say that it doesn't have to pre-45. I have one from the '50's as well as one from 'Nam. But, as Dave pointed out they had more time on their hands in WW1. These appear to be the most elaborate.

Steve.

Some great stuff!
Don't really collect this type of item but this one I liked so,,
German made from a Russian shell.

WW2 vintage....

Thanks for the pics guys. I wish more of you would add. This type of stuff is art, and took many hours to accomplish. Here's a piece that was probably done in the '50's. I believe it was done aboard ship in a machine shop. The female figure I was told came off of a knife handle, two years later I saw a knife with her on the end of it at a show. Of course it was the german city of blades.

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Some great artwork here, don't stop.

This piece is more of a "marriage", than art. Pole topper mounted on a tanks radiator cap base.

b

Here is something not so elaborate, but I like it because my Uncle brought it home from the So. Pacific.

flip side

I'd bet 99% of all 'trench art' never was even close to a trench! ..

Here's a good old site:
http://www.trenchart.org/

Denny and Gaspare,

Denny, I liked the letter opener? I have one with the same style of lettering on a shell caseing that I will post later in the week.

Gaspare, thanks for the link. I will read through it this week. BTW, I agree they all weren't done in the trenches. My friends Dad used to do antiques when I was a kid and called such stuff as folk art or hobo art, but that applied to anything done by hand by an unskilled person.

Steve.

Here's a couple more. A second war, not so skilled. It says Belgium, England, France, 1944. Ashtrays and vases you'll find more often. My pics aren't that great today, sorry.

Steve.

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This is a Vietnam piece. The quailty was about gone by then. Looks to be a shop trinket. This was found at a yard sale for me by a friend. Unfortunately there's no patina to this piece, I like to find them untouched.

Steve.

a 105 shell

quote:

Originally posted by Gaspare:
I'd bet 99% of all 'trench art' never was even close to a trench! ..

Here's a good old site:
http://www.trenchart.org/

Gaspare, I don't know what percentage was actually close to a trench when made, but I have this book by Kimball as well as a few others by Saunders.
At last count, I have 14 lamps, all the way from 37mm to 90mm. The 75mm/3" with nickle plate, driving bands in copper and fuse on the projectile are really eye catchers.
They were made from all types of shells, pineapple grenades and 60mm mortar rounds.
Matchbox covers, officers and EM dress caps, cigarette lighters, finger rings, etc were all made into trench art. I myself made a few ashtrays from discarded 90mm blanks while in the Army in the early 1960's.

Lloyd, I would love to see some pictures of the lamps. Could you please post some? My aunt and uncle had one as a kid I remember. I barely remember it and don't know any of the story. I've got a few more in my collection I'll post pics of. Nothing spectacular, I really don't collect in this area, but I look for those books.

Thanks, Steve.

quote:

Originally posted by Steven C.:
Lloyd, I would love to see some pictures of the lamps. Could you please post some? My aunt and uncle had one as a kid I remember. I barely remember it and don't know any of the story. I've got a few more in my collection I'll post pics of. Nothing spectacular, I really don't collect in this area, but I look for those books.

Thanks, Steve.

Sent you what I could Steve. One day I have to learn to use my digicam. presently working on cleaning an 1883 1/3 scale .22 Gatling Gun!

Posting these pics for Lloyd.

Lloyd, I'll post the pics of what came thru. I'll let you explain what they are and the story behind them. And I love the first one, that's the kind of work that I was hoping that someone would post. BTW, thanks.

Pic 2

When I get the other ones sorted out in a format that I can use I'll post the others.

pic 4

pic 5

pic 6

Thanks Lloyd for the above pics.

Steve.

quote:

Originally posted by Steven C.:
Posting these pics for Lloyd.

Lloyd, I'll post the pics of what came thru. I'll let you explain what they are and the story behind them. And I love the first one, that's the kind of work that I was hoping that someone would post. BTW, thanks.

Thank You Sir!
This is the rear of a WWI Trench Art cigarette lighter. As you can see, there is, for some unknown reason, the likeness of what appears to be a fly incised into the brass body of the lighter. Why? Who knows!
The corners are copper as well as the "spine". This is a book lighter BTW and the works tilt outward and contain the striker wheel, wick and fluid screw cap. Just as any lighter would have.
The "spine" of the "book" is incised in the central section with what appears to be a flower and stem. At the top band, the letters "QTMDB" are engraved. Th bottom band is engraved, "23-7-16".
This lighter just goes to show what workmanship can be evident in Trench Art!
Thank You Steve!
(Will now explain the front below)

quote:

Originally posted by Steven C.:
Pic 2

The above lighter front is incised with what appaers to be very highly stylized letters which I see as "MN" but please, I may be wrong on the exact letters.
Again, beautiful work I think.
This was from eBan a few years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Steven C.:
When I get the other ones sorted out in a format that I can use I'll post the others.

"Christmas 1914". The 4 pics are of a "Princess Mary Gift Tin", one of the most famous WWI momentoes and though not Trench Art per se, a definite item for inclusion with a collection which I have done. A brief description follows:
It is called the Princess Mary gift tin

In November 1914, an advertisement was placed in the national press inviting monetary contributions to a 'Sailors & Soldiers Christmas Fund' which had been created by Princess Mary, the seventeen year old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. The purpose was to provide everyone wearing the King's uniform and serving overseas on Christmas Day 1914 with a 'gift from the nation'.

The response was truly overwhelming, and it was decided to spend the money on an embossed brass box, based on a design by Messrs Adshead and Ramsey. The contents varied considerably; officers and men on active service afloat or at the front received a box containing a combination of pipe, lighter, 1 oz of tobacco and twenty cigarettes in distinctive yellow monogrammed wrappers. Non-smokers and boys received a bullet pencil and a packet of sweets instead. Indian troops often got sweets and spices, and nurses were treated to chocolate. Many of these items were despatched separately from the tins themselves, as once the standard issue of tobacco and cigarettes was placed in the tin there was little room for much else apart from the greeting card.

I have been able to outfit my eBan tin with a repro set of the cigarettes and the Greetings from Princess Mary and the Royals!
THANK YOU STEVE!

(I hope the members enjoy the pics. One day I will learn to use my camera IF I ever get my 1883 Furr Gatling Gun polished.)