Lot 221, Auction 4/3/2026: WWI Silver-Plated Shell Trench Art – Dancers

$325.00

In stock

Europe, World War I period, ca. 1914 to 1918. A striking transformation of war into ornament, this silver-plated brass mortar shell stands reimagined as trench art, its martial form softened by the graceful presence of two dancers in relief. The shell retains its original cylindrical profile and tapered, ogival tip, punctuated by small vent holes near the upper section and resting on a broad, circular base formed from the original casing. The surface bears a silvery sheen over brass, now mellowed with age into a varied patina of warm tones and subtle iridescence. Encircling the midsection, a textured ground supports a finely worked relief of two female dancers, their bodies caught in motion with raised arms and bent knees, skirts flaring in rhythmic movement. The figures introduce a lively human element, contrasting the rigid geometry of the shell with fluidity and gesture. Size: 6.4″ Diameter x 19.8″ H (16.3 cm x 50.3 cm)

Such imagery reflects a common impulse in trench art, where soldiers and artisans repurposed spent munitions into decorative objects, often favoring themes of beauty, leisure, and memory in quiet defiance of their original function. Rather than serving as a vessel, the piece is presented as a sculptural object, its weight and base allowing it to stand upright for display. An evocative artifact of the First World War, this work embodies both the material realities of conflict and the enduring impulse to reshape them into objects of personal and artistic expression.

Condition: Weathering and surface wear as expected with a few scuffs in areas. Otherwise, intact and very nice with impressive remaining detail.

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

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