France - WWI Trench Art brass vases

A splendid and elegant pair of era Trench Art flower vases from World War I, hand crafted from authentic 75 mm brass shell casings of the famous French field howitzer (75 mm Mle 1897). ​Workmanship and Details: ​Art Nouveau / Liberty style: Hand-hammered and chased with a hammered base and refined raised floral relief depicting roses and leaves. ​Shaping: Petal-edged scalloped upper rim, chased border with arches, and a twisted goblet base ("pleated"). ​Headstamp Markings: The brass bases bear the original period military stamps "75 DEC" (75 mm Field Artillery) alongside marks of the ordnance factory/manufacturer (PL). ​Condition: ​Original brass patina well preserved, never aggressively polished to preserve historical value. ​Condition Note: One vase shows a small period hairline crack/split in the metal near the spiked base shaping, caused by the original metalworking process (visible in the last photos). The structure is solid and stable. ​Historical Background (Trench Art & French 75mm) ​Trench Art (1915-1918): During the Great War, soldiers in the trenches and craftsmen in the rear transformed spent artillery shell casings into decorative objects to take home as souvenirs or to sell. ​The 75 mm Shell: The French 75 mm cannon was a symbol of resilience in World War I. The high-quality brass of these shells lent itself perfectly to repoussé/embossing in Art Nouveau style, making these vases pieces of great historical and collectible value."}{

Estimate:£0.84

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