Spear holder - howitzer trench art

Bill M · 14th January 2009, 03:28 AM

Just got this piece of trench art at a local antiques fair. It is made from a howitzer shell. about 6 inches in diameter and the shell itself is about 24" long.

The base is solid brass or bronze. Very heavy. Just the thing to display some of my spears. Most of the spears you see are from Papua New Guinea. They are about nine feet long or more.

I had them more evenly arranged until I pulled it out for photos.

Maybe we could have some pictures of interesting displays that other Forum members have?

Gavin Nugent · 14th January 2009, 06:24 AM

G'day Bill,

Another nice item for the Marsh museum, be careful though, I too have an old shell that size and it was unstable with weapons half that length, I'd hate to see it crash down on some other treasures you may be hiding, though the added legs seem like they add some stability to it. My old shell just holds antique walking and sword canes now.

I am currently reviving an old Chinese cupboard, reducing the width as parts of it were so far gone, the cupboard will house my swords within and the Hudiedao collection on the inside of doors when all is complete.

Gav

Bill M · 14th January 2009, 11:39 AM

Howdy Gav,

The big heavy brass plate and legs offer a very secure stable platform. As you can see in the pictures, several of my heavy wooden spears have shifted to the left and it is still solid.

Would like to see your cupboard when you get it ready.

Tim Simmons · 14th January 2009, 12:46 PM

Hard not to see the rather stunning Kudu head. I have a kudu horn trumpet. No idea if it is old or not but still looks cool with some weapons. Get the blow right and it makes a great sound. They were used to raise alarm call to arms as well as other calls. I have a feeling the axe here may be a throwing axe.

katana · 14th January 2009, 01:53 PM

Hi Bill,
".............." (speachless)

Wonderful decor.......

In extreme envy

David

.

Atlantia · 14th January 2009, 08:55 PM

Hi Bill,
Not a fan of the Kudu, but the room is pretty darn amazing!
What a great use for your Shell stand for spears too! I also would worry that it might topple though, do you normally have it in a corner?
The quality of the stand is much better than the norm as well which is nice, love the heavy tripod legs! Have you looked to see if any of the other parts are reuses and id'd them? Is there a date on the underside of the shell?
Is the central part another shell case? I wondered if the round plate was a reused inspection cover or similar because of the bolts?

Regards
Gene

P.S. Who does the dusting?

Lew · 14th January 2009, 11:04 PM

Bill

I like it

but the stand looks awfully top heavy to me. It might be safer against a wall or in a corner? How heavy is the stand?

Lew

fernando · 15th January 2009, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Bill
I like it

but the stand looks awfully top heavy to me. It might be safer against a wall or in a corner? How heavy is the stand?
Lew

I have a few shells around.
It seems as you can either fix a solid decor to the base of these things, like the one Bill is showing, or widen their area with some material; either one having to be increased in proportion to the objects (weapons) height you intend to display in there. You can 'feel' how steady they are, by pushing them aside and test their resistance. Naturaly is a high risk to display a full size halberd or the like in a shell without any stability device.
When i fear the thing is not safe, i glue a square of acrilic (transparent) material to its bottom. It looks as if the shell is in its self balance.
Also not a bad idea to place them in corners ... specially when you have pets around

Fernando

.

Bill M · 15th January 2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Bill

I like it

but the stand looks awfully top heavy to me. It might be safer against a wall or in a corner? How heavy is the stand?

Lew

Hi Lew and others,

The piece weighs about 40 pounds. It is quite stable.

The acorn nuts seem to be decoration as they just go through the plate. Possibly it was some part of something else, but it looks like it just looks like a big machined piece of brass. The four legs are about 14 inches tip-to-tip wide.

Someone went to a lot of work to make this, even to flaring the top edge of the shell.

Normally I do have it back against the wall, in a corner. The spears you see do not seem to be tipping it, but I would not leave it out in the hallway.

Gene,

A guy I knew needed a loan and left the kudu as collateral. That was about 20 years ago. I am not a hunter though I have several big game animals (I did not shoot).

If you look carefully in the "room" picture, you will see a blue wildebeest shoulder mount. Actually my two favorite mounts are a full body Tsavo Lion (the last one legally taken) and a cape buffalo shoulder mount.

"Dusting?" Just adds to the patina!

Fernando,

Great idea with the acrylic glued to the base.

Atlantia · 15th January 2009, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

Hi Lew and others,

The piece weighs about 40 pounds. It is quite stable.

The acorn nuts seem to be decoration as they just go through the plate. Possibly it was some part of something else, but it looks like it just looks like a big machined piece of brass. The four legs are about 14 inches tip-to-tip wide.

Someone went to a lot of work to make this, even to flaring the top edge of the shell.

Normally I do have it back against the wall, in a corner. The spears you see do not seem to be tipping it, but I would not leave it out in the hallway.

Gene,

A guy I knew needed a loan and left the kudu as collateral. That was about 20 years ago. I am not a hunter though I have several big game animals (I did not shoot).

If you look carefully in the "room" picture, you will see a blue wildebeest shoulder mount. Actually my two favorite mounts are a full body Tsavo Lion (the last one legally taken) and a cape buffalo shoulder mount.

"Dusting?" Just adds to the patina!

Fernando,

Great idea with the acrylic glued to the base.

You must have a huge house mate! I'm definately a 'break for bunnies' type of chap myself, but when I was a kid I lived in a huge 'stately home' sized house for a time while my father had the job of cataloguing the contents, and I still remember that within the endless badly lit corridors there was a huge stuffed Bear with arms outstretched which i ALWAYS gave a wide berth to! It was quite a place, suits of armour, swords and shields on the walls, tigerskin rug

even an alleged ghost!
I've seen your lion, he's certainly a magnificent creature! Why was the poor chap shot? was he a maneater?

God I hate dusting! I have a couple of rather large 'exhibits' in my collection and I can honestly say I dread the twice yearly clean they need.

I do have a rather beautiful african antelope myself

14th January 2009, 03:28 AM	#1
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Spear holder - howitzer trench art Just got this piece of trench art at a local antiques fair. It is made from a howitzer shell. about 6 inches in diameter and the shell itself is about 24" long. The base is solid brass or bronze. Very heavy. Just the thing to display some of my spears. Most of the spears you see are from Papua New Guinea. They are about nine feet long or more. I had them more evenly arranged until I pulled it out for photos. Maybe we could have some pictures of interesting displays that other Forum members have? Attached Images

14th January 2009, 06:24 AM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Careful Bill G'day Bill, Another nice item for the Marsh museum, be careful though, I too have an old shell that size and it was unstable with weapons half that length, I'd hate to see it crash down on some other treasures you may be hiding, though the added legs seem like they add some stability to it. My old shell just holds antique walking and sword canes now. I am currently reviving an old Chinese cupboard, reducing the width as parts of it were so far gone, the cupboard will house my swords within and the Hudiedao collection on the inside of doors when all is complete. Gav

14th January 2009, 12:46 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	A call to arms. Hard not to see the rather stunning Kudu head. I have a kudu horn trumpet. No idea if it is old or not but still looks cool with some weapons. Get the blow right and it makes a great sound. They were used to raise alarm call to arms as well as other calls. I have a feeling the axe here may be a throwing axe. Attached Images

14th January 2009, 01:53 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Bill, ".............." (speachless) Wonderful decor....... In extreme envy David . Attached Images

14th January 2009, 11:39 AM	#3
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Howdy Gav, The big heavy brass plate and legs offer a very secure stable platform. As you can see in the pictures, several of my heavy wooden spears have shifted to the left and it is still solid. Would like to see your cupboard when you get it ready.

14th January 2009, 08:55 PM	#6
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Bill, Not a fan of the Kudu, but the room is pretty darn amazing! What a great use for your Shell stand for spears too! I also would worry that it might topple though, do you normally have it in a corner? The quality of the stand is much better than the norm as well which is nice, love the heavy tripod legs! Have you looked to see if any of the other parts are reuses and id'd them? Is there a date on the underside of the shell? Is the central part another shell case? I wondered if the round plate was a reused inspection cover or similar because of the bolts? Regards Gene P.S. Who does the dusting?

14th January 2009, 11:04 PM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Bill I like it but the stand looks awfully top heavy to me. It might be safer against a wall or in a corner? How heavy is the stand? Lew