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WWI aluminum TRENCH ART hand carved French “ Verdon” inscribed inside with 5-27-18 and “From Reynard”. The spelling Verdon is the French version.
Up for sale is a remarkable preserved authentic piece of WWI folk art history. This continuous , round 2” by 2” round sweetheart bracelet was entirely handcrafted on the front lines
From battlefield- salvaged aluminum
A material famously harvested by soldiers from downed aircraft,artillery components, and zepplands. The exterior of the band features a beautifully executed hand carved Verdon flanked by meticulas artistic
Edwardian style stippled floral patterns. The name honors the famous Verdon river and gorge region
Of Southeastern France, a location heavily traveled by Allied soldierd during the war.What makes this museum-quality artifact is the intimate history carved into the interior. The inside of the band is rawly hand etched with a highly significant milestone date of May 27, 1918. Alongside a personal dedication that reads “ From Reynard”.
Reynard is an old French dialect spelling for “ Renard” which translates to “ the Fox”. This inscription represents either the soldiers true family surname or a proud Trench nickname given a cunning front line scout, crucially May , 27, 1918. Which terrifyingly corresponds to the opening day of the third Battle of the Aisne on the Western front. This bracelet stands as an incredable survival- marked keepsake gifted by a French “Poilu”to a loved one back home on a day of monumental history. An incredible candidate for further research!Condition: Excellent antique condition with beautiful untouched battlefield patina. The hand carved details are crisp, and the interior signature are clearly legible. No modern polishing or alterations have been performed, preserving it’s history and integrity completely. It forms a complete circle meant for a small wrist.
The German military launched a massive unexpected artillery blitz that smashed thru allied lines firing over two million shells in just a few hours. Because this bracelet features this exact date alongside “Verdon”, it means two things.
The connection .. Reynard survived the brutal opening day of this offensive while stationed in the Verdun sector and made the bracelet to mark his survival.
The Gift….. the gift Reynard made as a souvenir to send home to a loved one ( sweetheart bracelet) so they would know exactly where he was and what historic events he was living thru.
Because the Battle of Verdun was the longest battle of WWI, spanning 20 months in 1916 and remained a heavily
Active sector throughout 1917 and 1918, staggering three-quarters of the entire French Army rotated thru its trenches.
There is so much more to research if one is interested in learning more about this soldier. Please see all the photos as they are part of the description. If you have questions, please dont hesitate to ask. Thanknyou for looking!
