Trench Art (Shire Library) - Softcover

Saunders, Nicholas J.

3.7

10 ratings by Goodreads

9780747805434: Trench Art (Shire Library)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0747805431 ISBN 13: 9780747805434

Publisher: Shire, 2008

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Trench art is the evocative but misleading name given to a dazzling array of objects associated mainly with the First World War and the inter-war years (191439). Many items are recycled battlefield debris, notably artillery shell cases, often decorated with Art Nouveau motifs. Other objects, made from bullets and shrapnel, include letter-openers, cigarette lighters, enigmatic crucifixes, and artful miniature aeroplanes and tanks. Equally ingenious are talismanic and 'sweetheart' jewellery, embroideries, and items carved from stone, bone and wood. This book describes the different types of trench art, the techniques used to make them, and their historical and personal values to the soldiers, prisoners-of-war and families who made and bought them. Long ignored, trench art reveals a lost world of the Great War and its aftermath.

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About the Author:

Dr Nicholas Saunders is an expert in archaeology/

Review:

This is not a catalogue of the different types of 'Trench Art' available to the collector. Nicholas Saunders has taken a more academic approach to the subject, looking into the reasons for the 'Trench Art' in the first place, as well as suggesting methods of classification rather than just by type of item. Covering methods, location and era of manufacture this is a book not only for the 'Trench Art' collector and 'militaria' buff, but also for anyone with an interest in the social history of the period 1914-1939. Written in an easy style, with many superb photos this book is sure to become a definitive work on the subject. --By Nicholas J. Ofield

In this book Nicholas Saunders has answered most, if not all, of my questions on this subject. He has exhaustively researched this much ignored field of militaria and the book includes some astounding photographic records of trench art being crafted 'in the field' and even contemporary adverts for having your 'souvenirs of the war' professionally mounted etc ! This is the first book exclusively on the subject, and for such excellent pioneering work, Mr Saunders must be applauded - this book can only help to promote the subject to new collectors and will provide an invaluable boost in knowledge to all but the most experienced trench art collectors. While this book stops short of offering anything but the broadest values for categories of trench art, as a reference it is worth it's weight in gold. If you collect trench art, or are simply interested in the First World War, this book is a must - buy it !! --By Mr J Gordon-Cumming

Over the last decade or so Dr Saunders has not only focused on an area which had hitherto been largely neglected, but has made the subject of trench art very much his own. This little book is particularly nice being an especially good and colourful example in the Shire series. The photos are good quality, clear, relevant, and well selected. This book is positioned ideally for the likely market and is well written and informative - I read it in a single sitting and came away much enlightened even though I had already been interested in trench art for quite some time. This soft back is 48 pages with the better part of 100 illustrations. Any problems ? Not really but a couple of minor corrections might be suggested. For example (P 14) the making of shell case trench art was not always illegal, many shell cases were sold out of service and marked accordingly. These then became the property of whoever had purchased them and the new owner could then make whatever he wanted with them. A couple of shell heads (pp 20-21) are described as 'shell cases'. --By Stephen Bull

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