Belle Maison Store
The Rose Remains 1 – WWI Trench Art (1916)
Description
Striking in form and symbolic in spirit, this 75mm WWI trench art shell was handcrafted in 1916 by a soldier using repoussé techniques to raise a delicate yet bold rose motif from the brass surface. The shell’s lower body has been scalloped and indented into elegant vertical ridges, lending it the look of a vase — a transformation from weapon to vessel of remembrance.
The surface is carefully stippled with hundreds of tiny hammer marks, creating a textured background that draws the eye toward the rose at the center — a classic emblem of enduring love, hope, and beauty in the face of loss.
Though originally found as a pair, this piece is being sold individually. Each shell in the set carries its own subtle differences — made by hand, likely by the same soldier or within the same unit. They are bound by design but hold their own space in history.
About Similar Shells & Pairs
Trench art was often created using shared tools, stencils, or recurring motifs, and it wasn’t unusual for soldiers to make items in pairs — either as gifts or for sale. At Belle Maison, shells like this may be listed as “1” or “2” when part of a matched set. While visually related, each was still individually handcrafted and carries its own unique story.
About Trench Art
Trench art refers to objects made from battlefield remnants — bullets, shrapnel, and shell casings — by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians. Crafted during quiet moments amid chaos, these pieces served as emotional anchors, expressions of remembrance, and sometimes, messages to those left behind.
Dimensions: 13.5" x 4"