Rare WWI Trench Art Brass Shell Casing – 4th Canadian Railway Troops (1917)

• This is an exceptional, highly detailed piece of World War I trench art fashioned from an authentic brass artillery shell casing.
• What makes this particular piece extraordinarily rare is its direct engraving to a specific Canadian unit: the 4th CRT (4th Canadian Railway Troops), dated 1917. 
• The stippled, hand-hammered artistry covering the body of the casing is incredibly crisp. It features an array of beautifully executed military, national, and historical motifs commemorating service on the Western Front.
• The top rim has been intricately cut and flared into a striking 7-point crown or tulip shape, and it comes complete with a removable, perforated brass flower frog/grate insert, making it perfectly suited for use as a decorative vase.Key Engravings & Features  
• Unit Crest: Features "4 CRT" prominently enclosed in a hand-stippled frame near the top.  
• Theatres of War: Clearly engraved with "FRANCE 1917" and a "BELGIUM" banner scroll at the base.  
• Iconography: A beautifully detailed Canadian Maple Leaf sits at the center, positioned directly above a pair of crossed flags (including the Union Jack) and flanked by elegant, stippled Art Nouveau swirls.  
• Flared Top Rim: Expertly cut into a petal/crown design to serve as an ornamental vase. Condition & Measurements  
• Overall State: descent vintage/antique condition with a beautiful natural brass patina. The hand-punched details remain deep and well-defined.  
• Shell Body: Highly polished front with minor age-appropriate surface scuffs, character marks, and faint tarnish spots that emphasize its history.  
• Base Markings: The primer base is heavily stamped with original factory marks, including "REMINGTON UMC," "15 C," "75 DEC," and "1691," indicating it was originally manufactured as a 75mm shell casing.
• 14" tall with a 3" diameter

Used