A large and unique private collection of trench art is being sold by 1818 Auctioneers at J36 Rural Auction Centre this month.
The collection was amassed over a lifetime, by a local enthusiast and it took the 1818 Auctioneers team two days to pack the items and transport them to the saleroom.
Now a first selection has been catalogued and can be viewed.
The first sale features 72 lots of around 450 pieces and the estimated value for each lot ranges from £30 to £150.
The whole collection includes British, German, and French artillery shells repurposed into art pieces, primarily made of brass.
Many feature the name of a famous battle as part of their decoration which means collectors can explore the shells’ origins, usage, and associated history, said Simon Thompson Assistant Manager, Auctioneer & Valuer ASFAV at 1818 Auctioneers.
Simon said: “This is the first of a number of auctions we’ll be holding this year. It’s such a huge collection that we want to do it justice and don’t want to rush. It will take most of 2025 to catalogue and sell it.
“Trench art are objects created from debris and by-products of warfare. Although ‘trench art’ makes it sound like pieces were fashioned by soldiers in the trenches, in reality, few were.
“Workshop troops behind the lines, civilians displaced by the war, those on the home front awaiting call-up, and wounded military personnel got involved in creating these poignant and re-purposed souvenirs. This type of trench art was produced in the First World War up until after the Second World War.
“In this first auction there are some great hand-carved artillery shell examples, for instance lots 1215 and 1239. There are is also a clearly machine-pressed shell, such as lot 1246. Other items of interest in this catalogue include pieces repurposed from bullets and bomb fuses or timers.
“This is the largest collections of trench art I’ve seen in my career. Collectors will be looking for high-quality examples that reflect their particular interests. Perhaps the types of motifs on the trench art or pieces connected to significant battles,” added Simon.
The February sale includes pieces linked to The Battle of Verdun, the longest battle of the First World War on the Western Front in France.
The online sale, which ends on Sunday February 23, coincides with the 109th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Verdun on February 21.
