Great Britain. A First War German Artillery Shell Base Trench Art Cap, 1917

Hollowed-out brass artillery shell, the base cut-off and re-designed to appear like a British cap, with a flared piece forming the visor and an additional piece placed on the exterior forming the chin strap, pin position in the centre on the bottom, surrounded by the marks "Rh. M. F. 217" above, "DUSSELDORF" below, the month "JULI" (July) to the left and the year "1917" to the right, also marked "St" over "85" above and "SP61" below the aforementioned inscriptions, measuring 91 mm (w) x 57.7 mm (h), exhibiting green oxidation and surface wear, very fine.