1Identify

Preliminary identification

WWI German Trench Art Beaker, dated May 1917

Photo reference

2 uploaded photos

Overview

This is a classic piece of 'Trench Art' fashioned from the base of a heavy brass artillery shell casing.

Story

In May 1917, as the world was locked in the brutal stalemate of the Great War, this brass casing was manufactured and likely fired from a German field gun.

Maker / Origin

The shell itself bears the 'S' mark, likely indicating manufacture at the Spandau arsenal in Berlin, but the true artist remains anonymous.

Condition & Value

The brass exhibits a deep, authentic aged patina with some expected oxidation and 'zinc pest' spotting. Simple cut-down shell bases are common artifacts of the Great War.

Research

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