‘Trench Art' Brooch

Peer closely at this unusual brooch and you may find yourself slightly confused about its design features. Our little brooch is beautifully constructed, although the materials are somewhat untoward. Fashioned from a fragment of a German shell used during World War I, it is part of a category of items known as 'trench art'. This term encompasses the ingenious repurposing of wartime materials into both decorative and practical items.

Trench art was the handiwork of resourceful individuals from a range of backgrounds – often service personnel or prisoners of war. They created these pieces as a pastime or even as a means of generating income. We think our intricately-designed brooch is a wonderful reminder of human creativity and resilience.