Belle Maison Store
The Vigil II – WWI Trench Art (1917)
Description
This French artillery shell from 1917 is the second in a found pair of World War I trench art pieces—each handcrafted by a soldier and adorned with delicate repoussé botanical motifs. The surface is fully stippled with thousands of tiny hammer marks, giving texture and depth to the raised leaf and bud design that curves upward in a gesture of quiet resilience.
Made from a 75mm brass shell casing, this piece was artistically transformed during or after its battlefield use, becoming not just a relic, but a remembrance.
Note: This piece is the companion to “The Vigil – WWI Trench Art (1917),” though it is sold individually. Found together but worked separately by hand, they reflect a shared moment of intention from the same soldier or pair of soldiers—each channeling stillness, memory, and hope through metalwork.
About Similar Shells
It’s not uncommon to find trench art pieces with similar or matching designs. Soldiers often used shared tools, passed-around stencils, or repeated motifs inspired by nature, religion, or regimental symbolism. When found in pairs, each piece is still made by hand—its individuality intact, its story preserved.
About Trench Art
Trench art refers to handcrafted objects made by soldiers, prisoners, and civilians during wartime, using battlefield remnants like spent shell casings. These works of remembrance offered a way to process grief, pass the time, and hold on to something beautiful in the midst of devastation.
Dimensions: 14" x 4"