Rare Set of WW1 Trench Art 75mm Shell Cases (Krupp 1918)

This is an interesting pair of trench art shell casings from the First World War.

Military Origin: The Casing

• Fried. Krupp A.G. 1918: This confirms that the casings were produced in the final year of the war (1918) by the massive German weapons manufacturer Krupp in Essen.
• Steel Base (St. / Stark): Due to acute brass shortages in the German Empire at the end of the war, Krupp switched to producing casings with steel bases or completely steel/galvanized casings.
• Dimensions (7.5 x 13 cm): A standard German 7.7cm FK 16 casing is normally 23 cm high. The height of 13 cm means that these casings were deliberately shortened at the time. This was done in the trenches or shortly after the war to turn them into practical decorative items, such as vases, cups, or ashtrays.

The Symbolism: The Belgian Lion

The fact that the Belgian lion is depicted on both casings and that they face each other makes this a deliberately designed pendant (a matching set).

This specific design tells the story of its creation:

• Belgian Patriotism: Because they feature a Belgian lion, these casings were almost certainly decorated after the liberation or during the occupation by a Belgian citizen or craftsman. It was an expression of patriotism and victory over the occupier (by carving a lion onto a captured German casing).
• Mirror Image: Trench art was often made in pairs to be displayed symmetrically on a mantelpiece or sideboard. The fact that the lions face each other confirms the artistic intent of the maker.