WWI Trench Art Inkstand

This is a single-piece inkwell crafted from a German military fuse, transformed by a British maker into a commemorative object.

• The Main Body (Fuse): The body of the inkwell is the brass fuse from a German artillery shell, a direct piece of WWI ordnance. The military markings on it identify its specific type and origin.

• What the Military Markings Mean

• • The markings on the hardware—H.Z. 05 Gr / Sp 15M—are German and document the piece’s history.
  • H.Z. 05 Gr: “H.Z.” stands for Haubenzünder, which means “cap fuse” or “point detonating fuse.” “05” refers to the model year of 1905, and “Gr” stands for Granate, the German word for “shell” or “grenade.”
  • Sp 15M: “Sp” likely refers to Spitzgeschoss (“pointed shell”), and the “15” points to the year 1915. “M” may stand for Messing (“brass”).
• The Base: The inkwell sits on a wooden base that is covered in a metal, a copper alloy. The maker of the inkwell hammered the date 1917 onto this base. This signifies the year the piece was made, possibly as a memento of a significant battle or event.
• Inkwell Components: The fuse has been adapted into an inkwell. The top is a hinged lid that opens to reveal the inkwell cavity inside.
• Historical Context: The piece is an example of trench art. It was made by a British soldier or craftsman, using a captured piece of enemy hardware as the central component.