Added another piece of WWl Trench art

I started buying these items as they are not that expensive and hard to reproduce (Date is on bottom of casing).

This one is a German 77mm (3 inch) dated June 1917. Was used as a flower vase. Roughly done with the Signal Corp flags on one the sides(?) and the 5th Division logo on the other side. Their logo is a diamond or two triangles stacked on top of one another.

Bottom of casing shows 65%CU or 65% copper with a ST or strenghtened case.

This was known as the "Whiz Bang" or the first artillery shell to go supersonic. The US troops did not like them as you could not hear them coming and they were about a 14 lb explosive round.

Fired from the 7.7 cm FieldKanone.

Trench Art: An Illustrated History, by Jane Kimball

Reminded me of a 37 mm round I got many years ago. engraved
Argonne Forest Sept 26-28-18

Headstamp
37-85
PDPs
158
9.17

while I am at it, three boxes made of artillery rounds
4.5 inch HOW 1915

75mm FG
Blank M9
Scovill
and dated 1918

Two 18pdr ashtrays
One dated 1911
and the other dated 1915

Last of all what appears to be a FN 75mm with a german silver coin embedded where the primer would be.dated 1915 and a R.A badge on the side.

One more item, What appears to be half of three Lebel rounds soldered together, the bulllets bent to form the legs. two rounds have small brass plaques on them, One british and one American, while the third shows a cannon. possibly a pencil holder or bud vase?
I don't think the boxes or the last items are truly "trench Art" but rather made up by the locals to sell to the "ami's" as souveniers, but I may be wrong.

John,

Fine start on trench art. Please google Trench Art and you may find out what you have. I have never seen one like that made out of cartridges.

One of mine is a 8mm cartridge with bullet attached. The cartridge has a German button attached to it. The bullet has been split and a piece of shell casing attached to it as a letter opener. It says "St Mihiel" stippled on it. That took awhile to do by stippling it.

From what I read, most art was done way behind the lines. They had to take to an empty (frowned on as it was salvage brass) casing, fill it full of sand or dirt and start the process.

Remember, just like our rifles, there won't be anymore. That includes the artillery boxes. I think of trench art as tramp type art. There were some great metal workers out there! Most were not signed as the soldier was concerned that they would then have the piece traced back to them.!

As a landscaper, I was on a job in North Hollywood and found out the now deceased father was a veteran of Iwo Jima. He had created a light standard in the front lawn with an artillery shell holding the light fixture. It was well done as you might not notice it unless you were observant...

best,

Sully

I've been buying similar stuff from WW2. I have a nice cigar humidore made from two 105mm shell casings. The top of the humidore is the base of a 105 case that has been turned down to fit inside the mouth of another shortened 105 case. I have several ashtrays, one of which is engraved "Bouganville - Empress Augusta Bay - Nov. 1943". I have seen an ashtray that was made from a 105 shell that was presented to General Vandegrift by a Marine Artillery unit. It was marked "First Round Fired Against The Japs on Guadalcanal". I haven't been able to buy that one yet, but I'm still trying.

I used to encounter WW1 trench art at rummage sales and yard sales frequently in the 70s but at that time as a young 'un I found it interesting but not anything I could spend my few dollars on. I don't see much of it anymore and what I do see has some pretty hefty prices attached to it.

I have two vase made from 105's and two knives from WWll south pacific marked Leyte Gulf. The smaller knife has a coin inleted is the wooden sheath. The cion appears to be a dime dated 1944. These were my Dads.

AF Medic, while You mentioned what I have is a fine start it is also the end as well since I no longer collect that stuff. The only other odd thing I have is a tea caddy in the shape of a 15pdr projectile. By its condition, I would assume it was made during WW1. (made out of tin) It has suffered over the years. Can just make out on the bottom,
Registered Design
Printed by
the
British & Benningtons tea trading ASSOn Limited.
118 Southwark London
there is a printed shield on the side, but it is too worn to read.