Italy - Pair of decorative vases made from artillery shell casings. - Military accessories - 1917

This is an example of 'Trench Art,' specifically a pair of decorative vases made from artillery shells. They are crafted from artillery shell casings, most likely brass, as indicated by their color and markings on the bottom. They are part of 'Trench Art,' a popular and artisanal craft created by soldiers (or sometimes civilians) using war scrap materials, such as shell casings. The decoration was achieved through embossing techniques (for the relief of flowers and leaves) and possibly engraving. The marking on the bottom of one of the shells clearly shows the year 1917. This places them in the period of World War I (1914-1918), the most significant era for the production of Trench Art.

Additional markings: Besides the date 1917, there are other symbols such as 'G 48' and 'HL' (and perhaps a partial date 'AZ' on the left) that generally indicate the manufacturer, caliber, and batch of the cartridge case. Originally, they were bullet casings, but they have been repurposed as flower vases or simple decorative objects, often made as souvenirs or gifts.
In summary, these are two brass vases of 'Trench Art' made from artillery shells dating back to 1917 (World War I), decorated with embossed floral motifs.