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. Like all deactivated ordnance, this is Not Available for Export.

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. All items are completely inert and are in compliance with the current BATF standards on inert ordnance.

This is a great ashtray made from a German 88cm flak shell. The shell is dated 1941 and has a smaller German round affixed in the middle. On the side of the shell, a theatre-made DUI for the 82nd Airborne Division has been affixed. The shell has a base diameter of 4½” and a height of 8¼”. A great piece of trench art, ready for further research and display.