DATE: WW1, c.1915

*RESERVED* A fine example WW1 "trench art", items made my soldiers on the front lines using whatever materials they had to hand. This ring is constructed in aluminium, likely from an artillery shell's nose cone, and set with a naval brass "fouled anchor" button. The shoulders feature stylised pansy motifs, and the button has been applied to a square head. 

Foul is a nautical term meaning to entangle or entwine, so anchor is said to be "fouled" if it becomes entangled in rope, or snags on the seafloor, and when depicted like this one it's the emblem of the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom (a position that, since the passing of Prince Phillip, currently remains vacant). 

MEASUREMENTS 

Head: 9.4 x 8.9mm

Width of band: 3.3mm

WEIGHT 

1.6g

MARKS 

No marks present

CONDITION 

Very good, some general signs of wear commensurate with age and use