Lot 818

WWI Trench Art Shell, Silver-Plated Brass, Dancing Figures

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WWI Trench Art Shell, Silver-Plated Brass, Dancing Figures

Estimate: $500 - $750

Starting Bid: $225

(0 Bids)

by Artemis Fine Arts
July 30, 2026 8:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Europe, World War I period, ca. 1914 to 1918 CE. A silver-plated brass mortar shell reworked as trench art. The shell retains its original cylindrical profile and tapered, ogival tip, with small vent holes near the upper section, resting on a circular base formed from the original casing. The surface shows a patina of warm tones and iridescence over the brass. Encircling the midsection, a relief depicts two female dancers with raised arms and bent knees, skirts flaring in movement. 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.

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

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Item # 199307

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

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $749 $25
$750 $1,499 $50
$1,500 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $7,499 $250
$7,500 $14,999 $500
$15,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000