Question about Trench art. Nickle plated?

[dmert66]

I've run into a number of trench art pieces over the years, but recently have found a couple that were nickle plated. ( A nickle plated mortor round lamp and a pair of candlestick holders. Dated 44) Most trench art i've seen has always been brass. Just wondering if the nickle plated items are original or maybe created on the commercial market during or after the war?? Thanks

[scottiques]

I have several trench art items that are nickle plate as well.

 

Mine appear to be old of the era or very soon after.

 

Scott

[Bob Hudson]

Just wondering if the nickle plated items are original or maybe created on the commercial market during or after the war?? Thanks

 

I have always though that most trench art was not created in the trenches, or even during wartime, but rather by enterprising locals who catered to GI's after the shooting stopped, so you could say most of it was indeed created for a commercial market: occupying soldiers with American dollars. I think nickel-plating involves not much more than electricity and nasty chemicals and metals, so it seems like something that could have been done even in the immediate post-war years in Europe and the UK (where a lot of nickel plating techniques were first developed).

[scottiques]

 

I have always though that most trench art was not created in the trenches, or even during wartime, but rather by enterprising locals who catered to GI's after the shooting stopped, so you could say most of it was indeed created for a commercial market: occupying soldiers with American dollars. I think nickel-plating involves not much more than electricity and nasty chemicals and metals, so it seems like something that could have been done even in the immediate post-war years in Europe and the UK (where a lot of nickel plating techniques were first developed).

 

Limited amounts of trench art was actually done in the trenches. While much was made post- war, significant amounts were made during the Wars by enterprising soldiers and civilians.

 

It might surprise you at the capabilities of soldiers and the ingenuity to make items using equipment on hand. Remember that there were always repair facilites in theater to work on equipment.

 

I remember seeing a CB unit yearbook that contained a couple of photos of their "gift" or souvenir offerings-- the variety and workmanship was amazing.

 

If you haven't read Kimball's book on trench art, it is a MUST read for any trench art collector.

 

Scott

[Bob Hudson]

 

Limited amounts of trench art was actually done in the trenches. While much was made post- war, significant amounts were made during the Wars by enterprising soldiers and civilians.

 

It might surprise you at the capabilities of soldiers and the ingenuity to make items using equipment on hand. Remember that there were always repair facilites in theater to work on equipment.

 

I remember seeing a CB unit yearbook that contained a couple of photos of their "gift" or souvenir offerings-- the variety and workmanship was amazing.

 

If you haven't read Kimball's book on trench art, it is a MUST read for any trench art collector.

 

Scott

 

I have seen some cool CB pieces, but the vast majority of "trench art" that comes along is the engraved brass shells from post-WWI France, the P-38 ashtrays made from 50-cal shells (made in Australia, I think) and that sort of thing. Even the colorful painted WWI helmets were apparently mostly made after the shooting stopped by enterprising soldiers who paint and talent and made some extra money painting them for others in their little shipboard commercial enterprise.

 

We have a lot of trench art examples on the forum. Search for this phrase in Google:

 

site:usmilitariaforum.com trench art

 

Most of it is the mass-produced stuff, with the occasional example of the much more scarce items made by a GI or sailor, although some of the common stuff, such as the P-38 ashtrays, is often wriongly assumed to be the work of some GI with time on his hands.

[scottiques]

 

I have seen some cool CB pieces, but the vast majority of "trench art" that comes along is the engraved brass shells from post-WWI France, the P-38 ashtrays made from 50-cal shells (made in Australia, I think) and that sort of thing. Even the colorful painted WWI helmets were apparently mostly made after the shooting stopped by enterprising soldiers who paint and talent and made some extra money painting them for others in their little shipboard commercial enterprise.

 

We have a lot of trench art examples on the forum. Search for this phrase in Google:

 

site:usmilitariaforum.com trench art

 

Most of it is the mass-produced stuff, with the occasional example of the much more scarce items made by a GI or sailor, although some of the common stuff, such as the P-38 ashtrays, is often wriongly assumed to be the work of some GI with time on his hands.

 

Many of the P-38 were made by CBs with time on their hands.

 

Kimball's book has numerous primary source accounts of soldiers and civilians making this stuff while the shooting was still going on. Photographs show soldiers making shells and lighters while the hostilities were ongoing.

 

I posted a painted Iraqi helmet on this forum last night-- it as well was done while the shooting was still going on (2004).

 

Scott