Featured Coconut - Trench Art

While you see lots of trench art from shell casings, etc here is some that's a bit different. My FIL made these on Guam.

While it looks very plain, he lined the inside with felt and made hammered copper hinges for this jewelry box. He painted the names of ships served on it as well.


Then he carved an "Eagle", the belly lifts off to put trinkets in.


And this one is my favorite. A fish bank, you lift the fin off to put your change in. The base screws off to get the money back out if you want.

 

THESE ARE SO COOL!!! LOVE 'EM!!!

 

You are very lucky to have all these great WWII artifacts with a family connection to boot.

 

I'm starting to love trench art more and more

I like the fact that men facing the possibility of imminent death, decided to create something beautiful for the world to enjoy, even if they never got to see it again

 

I will hereby coarsely disregard the beautiful sentiment and analysis by @charlie cheswick with which I agree, and instead point out the incorrigible human nature of antiquers to be distracted to new things to fall in love with.

i.e., yeah, I lovem' too. Amazing talent and vision to make those.

 

Is your FIL still with us?
If so, maybe he could write down any pertinent data, like dates he was there. Or maybe you could record him speaking about it.

If he isn't with us, you should write down everything you remember him telling you.
We forget things as we get older.

 

No he passed away 2 years ago. He did put the year he made them and that he was stationed on Guam on them. The one piece has the names of the ships he served on. We have been making notes and putting them inside.

He was a wealth of knowledge and led a interesting life. Joined the Navy at 17 towards the end of WW2, owned/operated two different gas stations in the 50's and worked 46 years on the B&O Railroad before retiring as a conductor.

@clutteredcloset49 your advice is very good for anyone reading this topic. We have found many bits and pieces of his life that he never told us but we think he would have if we had asked more questions. Even at 17-18 he kept every piece of mail he got while overseas (yes we have them tucked safely away). Reading those letters from home was an interesting peak into a different world.

 

there's good money in these items...but only thru your FIL's connection to them...

We have been making notes and putting them inside.

Write down everything you know !!!!......& about him too !
name rank and serial number..

 

When I look at the three together, I get the feeling he made them for his kids, a boy and girl, and wife.

The fish has a 'lipstick' face and the fin in the bank is just too precious... I can just see little hands picking it up and depositing a coin ... for the girl. The eagle, with the 'secret compartment'... for the older boy. And the jewelry box with his own whereabouts referenced by ship, his wife.

Just musing.

 

Great musing, but at the time he was 18 unmarried and no kids. Though we did find a couple letters from his high school sweetheart. However that's not who he married.

But again great thoughts. Looking and handling anything with much age always makes my mind wander to what stories they hold.

 

Thanks for sharing these, @prestoncohunter . I enjoy the stories, too.

 

Wow, these are wonderful prestoncohunter

I 2nd what fig said