Pair of WWI Trench Art Scuttles

A pair of early 20th century First World War trench art brass scuttles and shovels. The miniature scuttles are hand made out of German brass ammunition shell cases. One of the shell cases was made in Magdeburg, June 1915 and has a copper plaque with "Albert. Somme. August 1918". The Battle of Albert (21–23 August 1918) was the third battle by that name fought during World War I, with each of the series of three being fought roughly two years apart. This smaller third battle was significant in that it was the opening push that would lead to the Second Battle of the Somme. The second shell case was made in Karlsruhe, November 1917 and has a copper plaque with "Landrecies. November 1918". During the First World War Landrecies was the scene of rear-guard fighting on 25 August 1914, after the Battle of Mons, and from that date it remained in German hands until it was captured by the 25th Division on 4 November 1918. The shovels are also hand made out of smaller ammunition shells.