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LOT 123

FRENCH TRENCH WORK, 1919 / TRAVAIL DE TRANCHÉE

Estimate: €1,500 - €2,000
Lot 123

FRENCH TRENCH WORK, 1919 / TRAVAIL DE TRANCHÉE

FRENCH TRENCH WORK, 1919 / TRAVAIL DE TRANCHÉE

French Trench work, 1919
Pair of sculpted and engraved 75mm shell casings, mascot support.
Pair of 75 shell casings engraved and sculpted in bas-relief of fleur-de-lys attached to a tree trunk. Both signed below R. Viard. One is engraved in a knot on the trunk: "René Viard, Reims 1919", The other: "War 1914-19". They are topped with a copper cap bearing a mascot. The first displays the statuette: "L'Exotique" signed Ruffony, with thermometer, the second presents a winged mermaid holding a wheel, signed Barthélémy.
Heigh with mascot: 48 cm approximately

Footnotes: Traditional trench work, the decoration of shell casings was carried out after having stuffed them with earth or sand to prevent them from pushing the metal inward. For the most elaborate works, such as these, the work was carried out after filling them with molten lead which was removed when the work was completed. We should not be surprised by the late dating, as demobilization did not occur for the majority of conscripts until the summer of 1919.

Travail de tranchée
Paire de douilles d'obus de 75 sculptées et gravées, support de mascottes.
Paire de douilles d'obus gravées et sculptées en bas-relief de fleurs de lys accolées à un tronc d'arbre. Toutes deux signées par dessous R. Viard. L'une porte gravé dans un noeud du tronc : «René Viard, Reims 1919», L'autre : «Guerre 1914-19».
Elles sont surmontées d'un bouchon en cuivre portant une mascotte.
La première arbore la statuette «L'Exotique», signée Ruffony, avec thermomètre.
La seconde présente une sirène ailée tenant une roue, signée Barthélémy.
Hauteur avec mascotte : 48 cm environ

Historique : Travail de tranchée traditionnel, la décoration des douilles d'obus s'effectuait après les avoir bourrées de terre ou de sable afin d'en éviter l'enfoncement. Pour les œuvres les plus élaborées, telles que celles-ci, le travail s'effectuait après les avoir remplies de plomb fondu qui était enlevé le travail achevé. Il ne faut pas s'étonner de la datation tardive, la démobilisation n'étant intervenue pour la majorité des conscrits qu'à partir de l'été 1919.

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