WWI St. Miguel Trench Art Cross w/ Decorated Cartridge Handle

Unusual and evocative World War I trench-art souvenir associated with St. Mihiel, France, handmade from repurposed military materials and fashioned in the form of a stylized cross.

The piece features a substantial brass cartridge/projectile-form handle decorated with an applied crown device on the body and a detailed flaming grenade emblem on the base. Attached to the cartridge is a large flat metal cross with a broad, elongated lower section, short transverse arms and a smaller upper projection.

The face of the cross is embellished with a hand-punched decorative border and prominently inscribed:

“ST MIHIEL”

The inscription refers to Saint-Mihiel, France, the location of the famous September 1918 St. Mihiel Offensive. The battle was one of the major American operations of World War I and became an important location in the history of the American Expeditionary Forces.

The cross form gives the piece a particularly poignant character and may have been intended as a commemorative or memorial souvenir of the St. Mihiel campaign. The use of military cartridge components, hand-cut metal and punched decoration is characteristic of the broad class of WWI souvenirs now collected as trench art.

The exact maker and circumstances of manufacture are unknown, and we therefore do not claim that the piece was literally manufactured in a frontline trench. It nevertheless represents a fascinating example of period military souvenir craftsmanship with a clearly identified WWI location.

The piece remains in attractive untouched condition, displaying an aged brass patina, oxidation, discoloration, scratches and handling wear consistent with age. We recommend leaving the piece unpolished to preserve its historical character.

An excellent addition to a collection of WWI trench art, AEF memorabilia, St. Mihiel material, battlefield souvenirs or military folk art.