Original British WWI Royal Engineer Trench Art Mugs Made from 18 Pounder Shells Dated 1910 & 1915 - Featured In The Book “Trench Art, An Illustrated History” by Jane Kimball on Page 193

Original Item: Only One Available. Trench art is any decorative item made by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians where the manufacture is directly linked to armed conflict or its consequences. It offers an insight not only to their feelings and emotions about the war, but also their surroundings and the materials they had available to them.

Not limited to the World Wars, the history of trench art spans conflicts from the Napoleonic Wars to the present day. Although the practice flourished during World War I, the term 'trench art' is also used to describe souvenirs manufactured by service personnel during World War II. Some items manufactured by soldiers, prisoners of war or civilians during earlier conflicts have been retrospectively described as trench art.

Reference books are an essential part of any collector's knowledge and growth in their particular field of interest. The 2004 book “Trench Art, An Illustrated History” by Jane Kimball is a comprehensive study of Trench Art and does a wonderful job in presenting the historical context of trench art throughout history. The book covers about 400 pages and includes hundreds of illustrations as well as mountains of primary source material and original photographs that document the evolution, styles and construction of the trench art genre. This is found on page 193.

This is a lovely pair of Trench Art mugs made from 18 Pounder shells, dated 1910 and 1915. The sides of each mug bear the insignia of the Royal Engineers, with the inscription YPRES-HODGE 89. F. COY / ROYAL ENGINEERS. Below each insignia is a scroll reading SOUVENIR FROM FLANDERS 1914-15-16. The mugs measure roughly 5¼” tall with a 4” base diameter. 

A lovely pair of mugs, ready for further research and display.