This piece of copper driving band taken from the base of a fired artillery shell has some unusual artwork.

The piece meas. approx. 10.00 inches long. The tip of the handle has been formed into the shape of a German soldier’s head wearing the spiked helmet or pickelhaube. The face is complete with drawn in hair, eyes and ears. This is something we have not encountered before. The obverse side of the handle also displays row upon row of square dots running approx. 3.50 inches, while the reverse side displays the rifling marks from the gun that fired the shell.

The last 5.50 inches has been flattened out to the shape of a scimitar blade decorated with wonderfully done scrollwork on both sides of the blade. The obverse side is marked with the initials “M.M.” while the blade reads “SOUVENIR DE LA SOMME” and the reverse side has “1916” with a plain decorated blade.

These letter openers usually have mundane decoration but this one with the head of a German soldier on one end is really unique and the Somme, next to Verdun, is one of the most famous battles of the war.

The area of the Somme saw heavy fighting throughout the war and in 1916 was the site of the famous failed British offensive that came with massive casualties.  [ad] [ph:L]

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