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WW1 Trench Art Shrapnel letter opener with engraved blade | Office Antiques488 of 736 |  |  |
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Posted 2 years ago
scottvez
(554 items)
This 11" long piece of battlefield shrapnel was worked into a beautiful souvenir letter opener.
The clip point blade has been polished smooth, plated and then engraved on each side.
One side bears a monument with a cross at the top and lions at the base.
The other side bears the date of 1914 along with the initials "J.M.T."-- probably the maker.
The intricate engraving really sets this example apart from the typical shrapnel piece.
Scott
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Trench ArtStrictly speaking, trench art is a phrase that describes folk art created b…
Letter OpenersLetter openers are products of an age when communication was a good deal mo…
Thanks vetraio.
Thanks Convair.
Thank you Finelines.
Link to bk's posting of another letter opener by the same maker:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/54307-world-war-i-trench-art-shrapnel-letter-o
This is truly magnificent! Of what metal is the blade fashioned, and what might the soldier have used to fashion the blade design? This is a fascinating piece - can you tell us any more about it? Thank you. miKKo
The shrapnel is steel. The blade was not added to the shrapnel, it is a worked and polished from ONE PIECE.
I would think that "JMT" was an enterprising craftsman and not necessarily a soldier. Although, there are letter openers (and other items) with just as elaborate engraving that are documented to soldiers and even POWs shown in Kimballs book on Trench Art.
Scott
Magnificent! Thank you so much for your enlightening comments. I was thinking that this was exceptional engraving. At first glimpse of the photo, I thought that it might be the work of an fine silversmith, then I saw the handle and wondered if our honored 'resident' silversmith had found another battered treasure that he had rescued. (These were just snatches of perception - funny how the mind works.) Anyway, magnificent piece!
Thanks for your interest mikko!
Scott
Thanks tom.
Scott
Link to another shrapnel letter opener that I just posted today:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/59020-ww1-artillery-shrapnel-letter-opener-tre?in=user
Scott