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.)

Lloyd,
Here's three more pics of your collection. Please thank Billy G. for going out of his way to put them in a format that my computeer would read. I had to re-size these to post. Instead of pulling pics of what you bought, learne your camera a bit and go to the computer help section here. Read a bunch, and what you can't find, these guys are very good at giving info, and extremely skilled way past me. I'm still on the learning curve. I have a few others that I'll post later in the week or over the weekend.
Steve.

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quote:

Originally posted by Steven C.:
Lloyd,
Here's three more pics of your collection. Please thank Billy G. for going out of his way to put them in a format that my computeer would read. I had to re-size these to post. Instead of pulling pics of what you bought, learne your camera a bit and go to the computer help section here. Read a bunch, and what you can't find, these guys are very good at giving info, and extremely skilled way past me. I'm still on the learning curve. I have a few others that I'll post later in the week or over the weekend.
Steve.

Thank You Steve and Billy G! Yeah, one day I gotta learn that little digicam but first it was starting the 1883 Gatling brass polish and then taxes. One day though!
What we have here is a 75mm WWI shell projectile lamp made by the Sneed Company to raise money for those injured in a HUGE blast. Well, here is the story:
ANTIQUE WW 1 VICTORY LAMP

MADE BY SNEAD & COMPANY

16" HIGH

GOOD CONDITION FOR ITS AGE

ENGRAVED ON SHELL:
"VICTORY - NOV 11, 1918 - 75 MM SHELL"

ENGRAVED ON COPPER BAND:
"THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES AND THEIR SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS:
NATION SHALL NOT LIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, NEITHER SHALL THEY LEARN WAR ANY MORE"

LABLE ON BOTTOM OF LAMP:
"75 MM VICTORY LAMP"
"MANUFACTURED BY THE SNEAD & COMPANY"
"THIS LAMP WAS MADE FROM A GENUINE US GOVERNMENT FRENCH-AMERICAN 75 MM SHELL SAVED FROM THE MORGAN EXPLOSION"

October 20, 1998 MIDDLESEX COUNTY NEWS PAGE 2


MORGAN MUNITIONS BLAST REMEMBERED 80 YEARS LATER


On October 4, 1918, building # 61 in the T. A. Gillespie Shell Loading Plant in Morgan exploded causing the evacuation of South Amboy. To this day the cause remains unclear. Initial reports blamed the explosion on an accidental spark, company negligence and German sabotage. Sixty-four residents and employees died from the explosion but more than 300 died from an outbreak of Spanish influenza that came in the weeks after the blast.
South Amboy at the time was home to seven wartime munitions plants that emplyed the local residents. This particular plant was one of the largest facilities of its kind. At one time it provided 10% of the shells used at the front. These shells were stacked on open railroad cars and under floorboards at the facility. The 7:36 P.M. initial blast was followed by three days of subsequent blasts. Local historian Frank Yusko has made a video recounting the ordeals of the explosions. The effects of the blast were felt as far away as Newark. Most houses in South Amboy suffered shattered windows, crumbling plaster walls and blown over chimneys. Damage was estimated at $18 million dollars. The current Victory Bridge was the site of refugees fleeing to Perth Amboy and Sewaren. Some families were sheltered at Rahway Prison (now East Jersey State Prison) in Woodbridge.
1918 was the year that the Spanish influenza claimed lives throughout the United States and these refugees were no exception. The cold and damp October weather combined with the refugee conditions claimed over 300 lives.
The area has long been littered with unspent shells. In 1995 shell parts were found on the property of Sayreville's Eisenhower School. 5,080 shell parts were recovered by the end of 1997 by the Army Corps of Engineers. A spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers said that it was unlikely that these fragments posed any serious threat but could not rule out the possibility that more shells could be found in this area.
The T. A. Gillespie Company Shell Loading Plant explosion, sometimes called the Morgan Depot Explosion, occurred at 7:30 p.m. on October 4, 1918 at an ammunition plant operated by the T.A. Gillespie Company and located in the Morgan area of Sayreville in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The initial explosion triggered a fire and subsequent series of explosions which continued for three days. The facility, said to be one of the largest in the world at the time, was destroyed along with more than 300 buildings forcing reconstruction of South Amboy and Sayreville.

There is more in Wikipedia of course. Now, while not a Trench Art item per se, the item has quite some historical significance and the value of these pieces continues to rise on every eBan auction they appear in. They are of course allowed as no Swaz appear thereon!

It's been a while since anyone posted.
I found this BOGEY and thought of this thread.
I have a piece of art that was made by my dad in 1958 @ sea. It's @ the lake house.
I'll post a pic when possible.

NEAT aircraft there. See, service folks use what they have parts-wise and their fertile imaginations to create totally one-of-a-kind objects.
I still have my 90mm shell ashtrays made with cut down 90mm blanks, .50 cal round over the primer tube and 7.62 linked ammo on the outer cirumferance. Also made a lamp out of a full 90mm brass shell casing. I think I have 14-15 lamps alone now.

Ok guys I have two that are kind of neat.

One is a ashtray "as the story goes" HAHA
was picked up in a german officer house in 45..

Kind of neat but Id like to know what the shell is?

The next one is a woodend match box. with a Luft eagle and wound badge. Also pretty cool

Any help with info / value Id appreciate it.

D

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While I cannot say what the shell caliber is or the value, I will say that stuff like this will go for what the buyer wants to pay.
I have seen trench art lamps, ashtrays, cigarette lighters go for what I would say is cheap for the workmanship on one auction and a like piece go for twice the price in another. Just depends who sees a piece and what they feel they want to pay.
ALL trench art is one of a kind and therefore totally unique. Neat items you have here.

Here is a box made by a norwegian volunteer in the german army, later W-SS. It's a good size, about 15" long.

Side, probably this box was used by him to store his tinned rations etc...

Or maybe he was day-dreaming about proper food...

Inside. The volunteer became an officer, Hauptsturmführer in the 6.th SS division NORD at the end of the war.

Best regards,

Nice pieces! The "field" workmanship is amazing.
I imagine these works provided a much needed distraction from the events and duties @ hand.
Thanks for sharing them.

Yes and it's really amazing what a bored soldier can do with some shells, etc and a very few basic tools.
When I made my 90mm ashtray, the only tool I had was 1/2 a hacksaw blade, some sandpaper and some steel wool!
The Army provided the 90mm shell casing, the linked 7.62 machine gun ammo and the .50 cal bullet. I supplied the days of labor!

Some very nice things guys, I have always liked the trench art. I seen a lot of it when I was a kid.

I will try to post some more pics this weekend
steve

These are schnapps glasses? The interpretation is up to the individual. If you find one or two that's what they may be, I was told if you find a set of six they were communion glases. A long time collector spoke of such a set with a tray, very elaborate.

Steve.

First war, may be a French shell. Not quite floral but it looks like it has wine vines. I like it when they still have some patina to it when you find them.

Steve.

Pic 3

This one here has a few issues. But for what I picked it up for it was about a give away price. So I rescued it to keep it from being discarded and forgotten. Sorry I should have dusted this before I took my pics, and my photo quality is a bit off today, sorry.

There's an European forum that has some Russian and German trench art on it. I'll post a link to it when I get back to it. I'm on a " Honey Do " list today, but the pieces are very exquisite from mess kits to canteens. Maybe I can ask some of those guys if I can post some of their pics of some of their stuff here.

Steve.

Hi Steve. Post a pic of the base of the shell with the neat vines and I will identify the nation that made that shell for you.
The small "glasses" are shot glasses BTW.
Neat stuff trench art!

Great thread guys! Here are two 23 inch long navy 3 inch shells. The pinup piece is 1918 dated and US Navy. The ashtray is also US Navy.

My dad made this during a tour @ sea during the late 50's.
I did have to replace the cord.
I bet you can guess what he was thinking of...
Cheers

Now that lighthouse is NEAT! Love it!

I just found this last weekend. Its is Austalian style and missing one cig holder unfortunately. the inside reads Australian commonwealth military forces. shell bottom dated 1942.


steve.

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my trench art 37mm shell,,german ww I Metz 1918

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what is the significance of the anchor symbol?..Navy usage or what?

markings on fuze tip,,lot number/date of manufacture?

quote:

Originally posted by militarymania:
pic 3

This shell is French. The PDPs stands for: "Pare d'Artilleris de Paris".

Per "Trench Art" by Kimball. I have many trench art items to include, I think 14 lamps made from 37mm, 40mm, 75mm, 3", 60mm mortar rd, WWII hand grenade, etc. Got them but don't do digital photograph darn it!

quote:

Originally posted by militarymania:
markings on fuze tip,,lot number/date of manufacture?

Yes, I would say Navy and date of manufacture, 11/6/18. Shell itself was 9/1917.

Really cool & interesting to see this art. TBH I never took much notice of this kind of stuff but it really is very nice!

I see someone else got all their stuff on photobucket deleted. What a bunch of jockey`s!

& Hi lloyd hope all is well with you. My regards.

quote:

Originally posted by Landser:
Really cool & interesting to see this art. TBH I never took much notice of this kind of stuff but it really is very nice!

I see someone else got all their stuff on photobucket deleted. What a bunch of jockey`s!

& Hi lloyd hope all is well with you. My regards.

HI Landser! Stay warm. This "Global Warming" is sure COLD!
Cheers!
(BTW, Trench Art seems to be getting warmer these days.)

Just bought...
8"x8" complete.
Check out the door/lock attachment

top coin slot

I was dusting some of my lamps and came across a note I made after taking a 3" shell lamp apart to tighten bolts.

If you happen to have any trench art shell cases with projectile attached by just it's weight and not brazed/soldered or otherwise affuxed, you MAY find what I did on this lamp under the projectile itself.

The base of the projectile, after removal from the shell has inscribed, " Your's Truly WA Bartlett Nov 24, 1918."

The lamp is nickle plated and very well made. I had to tighten a few bolts and to do so, took the projectile loose from the shell casing body.

As each item of trench art is an individually made item, it is possible to find writing as I did.

I got a new one in the other day.

Pretty neat..

enjoy.

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Very nice stuff guys,

I lost a bid on a cool well done scrimshaw shell a month ago. it had portrait of AH on one side and a swaz on the other.

steve

Just found this tankard yesterday at a show in Fort Worth. It's been some time since I've found a neat piece that I liked. It's very elaborate, with tanks, soldiers, palm trees, pyramids, and flags. Many of the battles are documented with dates. One of the scrolls states, "Brass used for the manufacture of this tankard was salvaged from the battlefields of North Africa."

Not exactly sure how it was done or when. It may be one of a hundred or even one of a kind?

Regards,
Steve

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