DATE: WW1, c.1916

Highly unusual and very cool WW1 trench art ring with naked woman shoulders and brass crest featuring the Austrian coat of arms (probably repurposed from a button). The band itself is constructed in aluminum from an artillery shell nose cone, and the apparent crude construction only partially masks the fact that this was clearly made by a talented metallurgist using whatever tools could be found/adapted in the trenches. Given the subject and relatively large finger size, I'd imagine it was worn by the maker... not all soldiers had a sweetheart back home.

MEASUREMENTS 

Head: 1.3 x 1.1cm

Width of band: 4.2mm

WEIGHT 

3.3g

MARKS 

No marks present

CONDITION 

Good, wear consistent with age and use