Original German WWI Crude Trench Art Brass Submarine U-Boat

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.

This is a very cute piece dating to the WWI era, and looks to be a makeshift German submarine or U-Boat, likely made from melted down brass from artillery shells. The piece measures roughly 6 x 2 x 2” including the small ovular base, and has many casting flaws as shown.

The piece has no distinguishable markings, and could very well be made to depict a British or American submarine, but we have no way of knowing.

A very interesting piece of trench art, ready to display.