Name: Original WWI French Trench Art Artillery Shell Lot - 3 Items
SKU: 145726

Original Items: Only One Lot of 3 Available. A lovely lot of three WWI Trench Art Shells, each made from a casing from the famous “French 75” 75mm Artillery Piece, which was used by almost every Allied Army during WWI. The shells here still retain all of their French markings on the base, and exhibit WWI dates. This lot consists of three uniquely decorated shells, consisting of:

- French 75mm Shell decorated with, what we believe, is a coat of arms for a French Soldier hailing from the Island of Corsica. As Corsica is a province of France, and soldiers from the Island served in the French Army during WWI. Beneath the finely engraved crest are the dates “1019-1919”, the soldier’s name “Lucien Lahousse”, and his military class year “Classe 1912”. The shell is approximately 9” tall.

-French 75mm Shell decorated with a beautifully done etched floral pattern. The photographs do not give the quality of the etching justice! Dated August 1917, and measuring 9” tall.

- French 75mm Shell profusely decorated and adorned with the names of American Doughboys. Hammered, Pressed, and Flanged. This example is dated 1915. Measures approximately 10 ½” tall.

All examples are lovely and ready to be polished and displayed!

Trench art is any decorative item made by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians where the manufacture is directly linked to armed conflict or its consequences. It offers an insight not only to their feelings and emotions about the war, but also their surroundings and the materials they had available to them.

Not limited to the World Wars, the history of trench art spans conflicts from the Napoleonic Wars to the present day. Although the practice flourished during World War I, the term 'trench art' is also used to describe souvenirs manufactured by service personnel during World War II. Some items manufactured by soldiers, prisoners of war or civilians during earlier conflicts have been retrospectively described as trench art.

All items are completely inert and are in compliance with the current BATF standards on inert ordnance.