Original British WWI “Trench Art” K.I.A. Memorial Picture Frame Made From Scrap Brass As Featured In The Book “Trench Art, An Illustrated History” by Jane Kimball on Page 309 – Edgar Cook, Royal Engineers Original Items

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 picture frame is found on page 309.

The caption from the page is a lovely description: “Memorial plaque made from scrap brass for Edgar Cook of the Royal Engineers. The top is cut out with a figure of Britannia with crossed Union Jacks, a photograph of Cook in a frame, “1917” within a laurel wreath, “In Loving Memory of My Dear Husband Edgar Who Fell in Action Oct. 10, 1917,” two memorial plinths and “R.E.” [Royal Engineers.] 6¹½ in. high by 4 in. wide by 1 in. deep”

We have not been able to locate any information on Edgar “Cook”. We are not sure as to how the last name was discovered only that it was mentioned in the book.

A lovely, grim reminder from WWI that comes more than ready for further research and display.