Lot 605:
A Pair of French World War I Brass Trench Art Artillery Shell Vases Inscribed Verdun
Sold for: $100
Description
A pair of French World War I trench art vases fashioned from 75mm artillery shell casings. Each brass casing features elaborate repoussé and chased decoration depicting a grapevine laden with clusters of grapes and large serrated leaves set against a stippled background. The upper rims are decoratively cut into a scalloped, foliate pattern with circular piercings. Near the base, each vase is hand-engraved with the word Verdun in a stylized leafy script. The bases of the shell casings contain stamped military manufacturing information. Both are marked 75 DE C at the top, signifying the 75mm de Campagne field gun. The base of the left casing is stamped L 115 . 13 S at the bottom, indicating a 1913 manufacture date. The base of the right casing is stamped C . 1066 17 C at the bottom, indicating a 1917 manufacture date. The center primers show various small stamps, including the letter A on the right casing.
Height: Approximately 13.75 inches.
Condition report:
Both vases exhibit age-appropriate wear and tarnish to the brass surfaces. Green verdigris is present in the recessed decorative areas and around the pierced rims. There are minor surface scratches and small indentations consistent with age and material. The cut edges of the rims show some irregularities from the hand-crafting process.
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