Original Item: Only One Available. Trench art is any decorative item made by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians where the manufacture is directly linked to armed conflict or its consequences. It offers an insight not only to their feelings and emotions about the war, but also their surroundings and the materials they had available to them.

Not limited to the World Wars, the history of trench art spans conflicts from the Napoleonic Wars to the present day. Although the practice flourished during World War I, the term 'trench art' is also used to describe souvenirs manufactured by service personnel during World War II. Some items manufactured by soldiers, prisoners of war or civilians during earlier conflicts have been retrospectively described as trench art.

Reference books are an essential part of any collector's knowledge and growth in their particular field of interest. The 2004 book “Trench Art, An Illustrated History” by Jane Kimball is a comprehensive study of Trench Art and does a wonderful job in presenting the historical context of trench art throughout history. The book covers about 400 pages and includes hundreds of illustrations as well as mountains of primary source material and original photographs that document the evolution, styles and construction of the trench art genre. This picture frame is found on page 312.

The caption from the page is a lovely description:

“British picture frame made from an aeroplane propeller section with two oval cutouts for photographs. The top of the frame has the propeller manufacturer’s decal, Lang Propeller Works in Weybridge. The bottom of the frame has a painted wooden decal with aeroplane propellers, a pair of doves and “Morris and Company Ltd. 449 Oxford Street, London, W. 12 in. high by 9 ½ in. wide.”

Lang Propellers was a British company that manufactured aircraft propellers. The company operated independently from 1913 to 1936. In 1909 Arthur Alexander Dashwood Lang became interested in aircraft propeller design and made some propellers in his own name. Lang developed and patented processes covering the tips of propeller blades with copper or fabric. These were used for example on Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2C aircraft. In 1910 he went to work for the British & Colonial Aeroplane Company (later the Bristol Aircraft Co.) as manager of the propeller shop. He left in 1912 and set up in partnership with David Garnett at the Riverside Works Weybridge, Surrey.The company was called Lang, Garnett & Co. This enterprise lasted a matter of months before Garnett left the firm. Lang established the Lang Propeller company in 1913 and continued to use the "Riverside Works." These premises were later used by The Airscrew Company to manufacture propellers and associated components. At its peak the company supplied wooden propellers to nearly every aeroplane company in England.

The overall condition is quite nice with some light surface scratches and dents. There are no glass inserts to protect any images you wish to use the frame for.

A lovely example ready for further research and display.