Description:

Awestern Europe / United States, WWI era, ca. early 20th century CE. A monumental example of trench art, fashioned from a large WWI-era mortar shell casing and mounted on a heavy brass base. The cylindrical body is richly relief-etched with a global menagerie of animals and plants - including a dragon, kangaroo, stag, robin, and a poppy, the enduring symbol of WWI remembrance. The brass base features a small hole along the rim, likely intended to route an electrical cord, and the casing itself has been hollowed out, suggesting this may have been repurposed as a floor lamp or display fixture, though no electrical components remain. The removable black conical nose has three drilled holes at the top.

Provenance: ex-private collection, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, USA, collected from 2010 to 2015

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#199227

  • Condition: Wear consistent with age and use. The brass shell exhibits surface rubbing, small dents, and scattered scratches throughout, along with areas of patina and oxidation. . Overall stable, with expected cosmetic wear for trench art of this scale and period.

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November 21, 2025 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000