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June, 2019 The Antique Shoppe Page 9
In the book, Coppard tells how he pressed the buttons on his uniform into
the wet clay floor of his trench, making perfect molds. He melted lead from
shrapnel and then poured the molten lead into the buttonmolds, making lead
replicas of his company’s regimental crest.
Coppard tells of another artistic incident that occurred while he was
recovering from wounds. He was in a private house in Birkenhead, opposite
Liverpool in England, and, “a kind old lady brought a supply of colored silks
and canvas and instructed us in the art of embroidery. A sampler which I
produced under her guidance so pleased her that she had it framed for me.”
Soldiers, in an attempt to take their mind off of dying, handmade many
artistic items while huddled in the muddy clay of French trenches. Rings and
knives were easy to make since scrap metal and other recyclable war refuse
was always lying around. Many of these items were made by support troops
Trench Art of World War I in support trenches as they waited for their turn at the Front.
Of particular interest to collectors are items made from spent bullets,
Provided Beauty in the Face of Death artillery shell casings, shrapnel, or parts off of downed airplanes. Art made
from spent casings not only tell stories about the daily life of trench soldiers,
they also tell stories about the types of weapons encountered or used by the
By Larry LeMasters soldiers. Trench art also provides valuable

LeMasters’ Antique News Service social and historical accounts of war
and its effect on soldiers. Finally, these
Since the dawn of warfare, soldiers intriguing art objects provide decorative
have fashioned art and other decorative examples of a soldier’s attempt to create
items from war materials at hand. beauty from the ugliness of war.
Historically, the term “trench art” is Bullet casings were used to make letter
applied to art made during the Napoleonic openers, religious crosses, match safes,
Wars up to the present day; although, and other small items. Common artillery
this artistic pastime reached its heyday in shell casings were used to make shell case
the trenches of World War I all along the vases, which, technically speaking were
Western Front, which is where this type of treasonous objects since shell cases were
art acquired the name “trench” art. valuable to the continued war effort and
Trench art has been defined as “any decorative item were meant to be picked up and sent back
made by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians where for reloading.
the manufacture is directly linked to armed conflict or One might wonder how a doughboy in the mud
its consequences. could weld a beautiful crucifix, using shell casings,
The National Army Museum (Trench Art WWI— and the simplest answer is, “He couldn’t.” The
All you need to know, www.armymuseum.co.nz) National Army Museum explains, “Although there
states, “Trench art does not just refer to things made are many objects made by soldiers in the trenches,
by soldiers in the trenches but objects made by the majority of soldier-made trench art was designed
anyone in response to conflict or recycled out of war and created far behind the front lines. Specialist
materials. This includes soldiers, those in the trenches equipment was available in blacksmiths and
and those far behind the front lines, prisoners of war engineers’ workshops and the men there had enough
who made things to pass the time or to trade, and downtime to make beautiful and intricately finished
civilians.” products.”
Basically, there are four broad categories associated Psychologists have long argued why soldiers
with trench art—items made by soldiers, items made make trench art. Again, the National Army Museum
by POWs and internees, items made by civilians, suggests, “There are many reasons why trench
and commercial items. Working within these four art was created by different people. It could be as
categories, many collectors only seek items made by simple as passing the time, entertainment or to help
soldiers, especially those items that suggest they were soldiers to remember a place or battle. Trench art
truly fashioned in the trenches of World War I. also became a way for civilians to make a living in
Examples of true trench art are described in George war torn lands where so much was
Coppard’s famous World War I adventure With a destroyed and the rubbish of war became a useful
Machine Gun to Cambrai. Although not resource. A substantial cottage industry sprang
published until 1969, Coppard tells of his war up to produce
time experiences along the Western Front while trench art
serving with a machine gun team associated with the souvenirs for
6 Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment. He served soldiers and later
th
from 1914 until he was severely wounded in 1917. visitors, which
continued throughout the interwar period.”
SHOWN: Top Left- GERMAN WWI SKULL with grenades cut into helmet. This trench art is The National Army Museum online
made of solid metal and is valued at $250. Center Top- GERMAN TRENCH ART WWI FOKKER exhibition has a huge collection of World
AIRPLANE. The fuselage is made of a rifle cartridge, the winds are artillery shell parts, and the
wheels are also made of cartridges. This plane is valued at $440. Center Left- TRENCH ART War I trench art, helping to showcase
VASE made from WWI brass shell. This art is valued at $275. Center Right- WWI GERMAN this psychologically riveting part of war
TRENCH ART BRACELET, made from the brass, rifling ring of an artillery shell. This bracelet is and mankind’s yearning for something
valued at $325. Center Bottom- KNIFE FASHIONED FROM A WWI MACHINE GUN BULLET beautiful in the face of death and
CASE. This utilitarian knife is valued at $200. Bottom Right- UNUSUAL, WWI TRENCH ART
FIGURAL “GRIFFIN” SHIELD constructed of re-cast artillery brass and mounted for hanging. destruction.
This piece is valued at $1,000