Featured I believe this is Trench Art from WWII, any other ideas?

In my opinion, the term 'trench art' should be restricted to the products of the trenches in the First World War, and as Spring says, made from whatever odds and ends found lying around, usually shell cases or other brass.

Also, in general, these pieces will have an art nouveau or similar period style, reflecting people's tastes at the time.

Another characteristic, to qualify as 'trench art' is that the object is usually made by simple hand processes such as cutting and hammering.

I think it degrades the utility of language to extend the term 'trench art' to anything military from any conflict.

It is coincidental but significant to reaffirm the definition of trench art on Armistice Day, the 11th. of November.

 

But no one can say what was actually made in the trenches as there were no records kept. Most pieces called trench art were made in villages by the local populations from war scrap. An enterprising soldier could even forge steel and make knife blades in the trenches.... https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/trench_art

I could probably made a number of items if I were in the trenches,but that was before my time and different circumstances.

 

I still think this could an aircraft ID model ... there are plenty of examples here: http://collectair.org/museum.html

 

Sadly I can't ask my relative as he has passed. But he was a designer, engineer for defense contractors after the war. He was a hobby artist as well. So knowing he was in the Battle of the Bulge, and his talent, I believe he was the one who made it. I have other pieces he made, that he told me he did during the war because he had access to the machine shop. It is a solid piece, not magnetic. He also told me he used scraps he found to produce the items. He also did toy soldiers. But because it isn't signed to attributed in any way to a war in isn't trench art, then? What would you call it? How do you value(other than sentimental) monitary value for items such as these?

 

Just occurred to me, HIS father was in WWI was a Canadian Citizen and in the Canadian Army. would that make sense?

 

Calling Napoleonic war prisoner products 'trench art' is a step much too far. The category of 'Prisoner of war work' is well established and also quite distinctive once you become familiar with it. Some of the bone ship models from the period are astounding in their craftsmanship and accuracy, some really fine ones are on show in the national Maritime Museum at Greenwich.

I'm sticking with WWI period in a typical style for anything I'd call trench art. Others may and will use the term as they please.

 

If your photos are OVER 1 MB then they will NOT upload!!!! NEED to be UNDER that size!!!!!!!

 

The object looks to me very much like cast aluminum would. You need a Foundry to cast it, although there are individuals who set up small scale operations as a hobby.

 

and being aluminum, the toy was certainly not made during WWII

 

YES...ty...I am aware.

I do not believe it is a toy. Aluminum was discovered in 1825....
Aluminum in WWII
With the onset of World War II, aluminum became a key strategic metal. Primary uses of aluminum included the construction of aircraft frames, ship infrastructure, radar chaff and millions of mess kits. America’s supply of bauxite and readily available electricity for primary metal production resulted in soaring output that eventually topped the production levels of all of the Axis countries combined. On the homefront, aluminum recycling got an early start. “Tin foil drives” included an offer of free movie tickets in exchange for aluminum foil balls.

 

I once had this ashtray (7" wing span):

 

And in your humble opinion, what was it? Trench art?

 

Definitely not trench art. Could have been a promotional thing from the manufacturer of the plane, but that's conjecture.

No maker's mark on the thing I had, but I'm confident that both the ashtray and the plane were cast - not a trench art technique.

It seems to me that trench art is hand fashioned from debris scavenged from a battlefield. It usually looks, at least in part, like the thing from which it was made.

IMO

 

i agree , modern day cast aluminum ,these are the ones i have