Lot 209B
Europe, World War I, ca. 1914 to 1918 CE. A tall and elegant example of World War I trench art, masterfully fashioned from a repurposed brass mortar shell casing and transformed into a decorative vase. The cylindrical body has been meticulously embossed and repousse-worked with intricate designs of roses in full bloom surrounded by butterflies in flight, their graceful forms emerging in low relief against a finely textured ground. Scalloped bands encircle the upper and lower sections, creating a rhythmic, ornamental border that softens the martial origin of the form. The underside retains its original ordnance stampings, including factory marks, lot numbers, and caliber designations, bearing witness to its life as a weapon of war before its reimagining as an object of peace and beauty. Crafted by soldiers or artisans during or shortly after the conflict, trench art pieces like this were expressions of reflection and resilience, made from the very materials of warfare that once scarred the earth. Size: 4.3" Diameter x 23.5" H (10.9 cm x 59.7 cm)
The transformation of brass - a metal associated with industry, weaponry, and endurance - into a vessel adorned with roses and butterflies speaks poignantly to the human impulse to create, remember, and hope. A relic of both conflict and creativity, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of art to reclaim beauty from destruction.
Provenance: ex-private collection, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, USA, collected from 2010 to 2015
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#199299
- Condition: Some slight bending to rim, as well as nicks, scratches and surface wear as shown, but, otherwise, intact and excellent with nice remaining detail and scattered patina.
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| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
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| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |