Original French WWI French Made Repoussé Pewter/Wood Belgian King Albert Commemorative Chest With Key – Featured In The Book “Trench Art, An Illustrated History” by Jane Kimball on Page 188 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.

The trench art was done by a French soldier as a commemorative item for Belgian soldiers. Featured In The Book “Trench Art, An Illustrated History” by Jane Kimball on Page 188 which has the following description:

“Wooden jewelry box covered with thin pewter sheets decorated in repoussé work. Made in Paris and presented to Belgian King Albert. Decorated on the top with the sun [made from a glass bead] shining on a group of Belgian soldiers, a portrait of King Albert and two branches of laurel leaves-one with a flaming Victory torch and signed “A. Dubois 1918.” The front has a view of Brussels and the Belgian lion with a flag. The right side is decorated with a monumental gate in Brussels. The left side is decorated with a sword engraved “On ne passé pass!” “Flutuat nee Mergitur 1914” “Le peuple de Paris a se majesté Albert ler Roi des Belges” “Droite sans tache sans effroi j’ai pour ame toi Anne O Roi Richepin.” The back is decorated with a battle scene between the Belgians and the Germans and is engraved “Une Battaille de Nuit sur l’Yser le 17 Octobre 1914” and “1915. 1916. 1917. 1918.” 5 in. high by 9% in. wide by 4½ in. deep”

A lovely example ready for further research and display.