WWI British 18-Pounder Artillery Fuze Trench Art Vessel, Dated 1915

This item is an original World War I trench art object fabricated from a British 18-Pounder artillery fuze, dated 1915. The piece began its service life as a functional nose fuze for the Ordnance QF 18-pounder field gun, the primary light artillery weapon of the British Army and Commonwealth forces throughout the Great War. Following its military use, the fuze body was deliberately modified by hand and repurposed into a small decorative vessel, consistent with period trench art practices.

The fuze is constructed of solid brass, originally machine-turned for ordnance use. The exterior retains its heavy cylindrical form with a scalloped crown profile, now further refined by hand. The upper rim has been cut down and evenly reshaped into a decorative, wave-patterned edge, clearly distinct from factory ordnance finish. The interior has been hollowed and smoothed, converting the former fuze body into a usable container or small vase. The base remains flat and heavily machined, with concentric lathe marks visible.

The underside bears clear and legible British ordnance markings, including “18 PR” (18-Pounder), inspection or pattern markings, and the date “1915.” These markings are struck in the standard British style and firmly establish the fuze’s original identity and wartime manufacture. German Imperial artillery components were designated by metric caliber and marked “Z.” for Zünder (fuze); this example conforms entirely to British marking conventions.

Historically, the 18-pounder gun dominated British field artillery operations on the Western Front during major engagements such as the Somme, Arras, and Passchendaele. Artillery fuzes were critical components, governing detonation timing and impact behavior. After firing or recovery, brass components were frequently salvaged by soldiers and civilians and transformed into personal or decorative objects. This practice—now collectively known as trench art—served as both a creative outlet and a means of memorializing wartime experience.

The hand-worked nature of this piece places it firmly within authentic WWI trench art, rather than later decorative brassware. The reshaped rim, hollowed interior, and retention of original ordnance markings are all characteristic of period conversions undertaken during or shortly after the war.

Condition is very good. The brass displays an even, aged patina with scattered oxidation and darkening consistent with age and handling. All stamped markings remain readable. There are no cracks, structural damage, or modern repairs. The piece is fully inert and offered strictly as a historical collectible.

Provenance is unattributed, but the date, markings, construction, and style of modification are fully consistent with British WWI trench art derived from expended 18-pounder ordnance.