Belle Maison Store
The Rose Remains 2 – WWI Trench Art (1918)
Description
A quiet companion to its floral twin, The Rose Remains 2 carries the same luminous presence and delicate repoussé craftsmanship, but with a smooth, uninterrupted face. Crafted from a 75mm brass artillery shell, this trench art piece was hand-hammered in 1918 by a soldier seeking to transform war’s remnants into beauty.
The top half of the shell is richly stippled with hundreds of tiny indentations, creating a shimmering surface that plays with the light, while the lower portion is sculpted into vertical fluting — softening the hard brass into something almost organic.
Though it was originally found as a matched pair with The Rose Remains 1, this shell stands alone in its simplicity, a poignant contrast to the bloom it once accompanied.
On Paired Trench Art
Many trench art pieces were created in twos — sometimes as gifts, sometimes for sale or barter. At Belle Maison, when we find such sets, we sell them individually but note their relationship in the listing. Each piece is handmade and holds its own unique identity, even within a pair.
About Trench Art
Created during WWI by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians, trench art was often made during long stretches of waiting. These handcrafted pieces offered comfort, expression, and a way to hold on to something beautiful in a world undone by war.
Dimensions: 13.5" x 4"