Posted 6 years ago
racer4four
(620 items)
This is a birthday gift of Vincent's, a great hand made money box, made in a basic form of a Mark IV or Mark V British tank, circa WW1.
There are only a few screws in the tank, little straight blade brass ones, and the rest is held together with what looks like steel shoe tacks.
I don't know the wood type but it all has a lovely patina.
Heat etched on the bottom is TH 2655.
My question is: would this be trench art? It certainly is very rustic and the materials would have been available to a trenchman.
Would the TH be the makers initials and what is the relevance of the 2655?
Ideas? Opinions?
Thanks all!
That is such a cool wood tank-shaped box, what an incredible original design, and a super BD gift
This has to be the coolest and most unique money box I've ever seen.
very cool find!
I had a feeling it was Vincent's. If it is made out of old military this and that it would be trench art.
This is great Karen! I would say it is trench art and the number is probably The service number of T H.......
Thanks Jenni, it's a cool old thing!
Scott it's in use already, so clearly it is a useful, cool thing. Thanks for the comment and love of course!
Thanks Ho2. I found it at the monthly antique and collectors market here. The seller was a great character!
Vincent, like you, has his own bent Fort. The world needs the individual ones.
I think it's trench art too, but like the support thanks.
I felt the number was probably something military too Judy, but like to have reinforcements! I had a go searching online but it seems most WWI records for GB have been destroyed, and AIF records didn't match. We may never know.
Great tank! It is very well done.
I collect trench art with intensity. For it to be trench art it must be made from war refuse-- "Swords into Plowshares". Since the small pins are boot tacks, I'd consider it trench art. It would look great displayed with other trench art pieces or other souvenirs.
The number is too short for a service number, so I'd think that it represents something else.
Thanks for sharing.
scott
Wonderful!
Fantastic treasure box, really love this !~
Thanks Thomas, so nice hearing from you!
Thanks for the confirmation Scott. I was hoping you would see and comment as I know of you as our resident trench art collector and expert.
It's a great piece, and Vincent has it with his other WWI tanks, including his Bank in a Tank, and his ceramic shield tanks.
I appreciate your input, thanks again.
Thanks BTL and Phil. Glad you both saw this and loved it!
Excellent, it's Different.
I have one the same, in really good condition, with T.H on it and the number 763 ????
I have seen a simelar wooden tank money box.
Etched on the bottom is TH 1526.
The number is probily not a service number
Thanks Harst.
TH may have been the woodworker and his own numbering system, or it all could mean any number of a million things!
More info always helps thanks.
At a glance, I wondered if it'd be a 'tip box' for the bar at a VFW post or somesuch, presumably custom made by the TH...??
It’s a possibility AO.
I think it’s a very British piece even though it’s here in Aus.
Thanks for having a look and giving me another idea.