The Victory Rose Shell

WWI Trench Art Brass Vase – “The Victory Rose Shell”
France, 1918

An authentic World War I French trench art vase, crafted from a 1918 brass artillery shell casing and transformed by hand into a decorative object during the final year of the war.

This piece features a bold, sculptural raised rose motif set against a densely textured, hand-worked ground. The contrast between smooth relief and finely punched background highlights the skill and time invested in its creation. The rose—one of the most enduring symbols in trench art—represents love, remembrance, and survival.

The base retains its original French headstamp, including “75 DE C,” confirming its origin as a 75mm shell casing, the standard caliber of the famed French field gun used throughout the war. Dated 1918, this shell was manufactured during the closing chapter of World War I, when many soldiers and civilians were already transforming battlefield remnants into keepsakes and commemorative objects.

Preserved in original condition, this vase shows age-appropriate wear consistent with its history. A powerful and expressive artifact from the final year of the Great War.