Customer Reviews

Trench Art: An Illustrated History

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been collecting trench art seriously for about 18 years and am happy to say that Jane Kimball's new book is, bar none, the best reference I am aware of. Nothing else even comes close.

Several years ago I asked a militaria dealer if he knew of any good reference books on trench art, as I had never found one which had any substantial coverage. He said that there wasn't one, but that he knew of "a young lady in California who is working on a book." He put me in touch, and Kimball and I have been corresponding ever since. (She has also been kind enough to include four pieces from my own collection in chapters 5 and 6.)

Kimball is a retired research librarian from the University of California, and her professional expertise shows up wonderfully in her book. She knows how to do research, and the importance of (unobtrusive) footnotes. Her text is well written, but insofar as she can she lets the words of the makers and their contemporaries speak for themselves, and the art for itself.

"Trench Art: An Illustrated History" concentrates on material produced during and shortly after the First World War, the first great efflorescence of this until now rather obscure world-wide form of folk art. However, Kimball covers the earlier history of soldier art and prisoner of war art in order to provide the reader with a historical context for its development, and also covers the subsequent production during the Interwar Period, WWII itself, and a once over lightly of the post-WWII era. Trench art is still being produced today, and will likely continue as long as there is conflict.

She has ferreted out and included here the numerous, but generally brief, references to trench art buried in now obscure publications during and after the Great War and brought them together to provide a greater understanding of the part trench art played in the daily lives of soldiers and their families.

The illustrations are generally excellent, though space constraints even in this hefty book required making some smaller than ideal. Still, they are clear and crisply printed in color, with good captions, and the variety within types is enormously helpful.

Trench art is an area with so little reference material published that even those of us who have been collecting for years can't know what is out there until we actually see it. I estimate that I have looked at (mostly on the Internet) well over thirty-thousand pieces, and Kimball has surely seen far more than that. Her collection, which makes up the great majority of the illustrations here, is composed of the cream of what she has come across.

Culled from tens of thousands of examples viewed over many years, the hundreds of pieces here provide an excellent overview of the varieties of form, both common and rare, which make trench art such a fascinating form of folk art from around the world.

Kimball's scholarly approach, accompanied by massive footnotes (10 pages worth) and a five page bibliography provide the general collector with interesting and reliable data, and the scholar with plenty of leads for further research.

This beautiful reference book is a must have for anyone remotely interested in the field of trench art. The author has done a marvelous job of documenting the development of this curious art form. Copiously illustrated with examples from her personal collection and others, TRENCH ART--AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY is the most comprehensive book on the subject. The collecting world owes Ms. Kimball a huge debt of gratitude for her work on this monumental book.

Gary Hollingsworth
Orlando, Florida

I was quite pleased to see this book come to the stands.
The text as well as the photos tell how trench art came about, and goes on to explain how the many different effects were reached. Ms. Kimball illustrates the many different
forms that trench art can take and the varied materials used in the creating of this art form. A GREAT BOOK !!!

Mac West

macs@value.net

DID YOU EVER WONDER JUST WHAT THOSE STRANGE ARTISTIC BRASS SHELL CASEING VASE "WHAT YOU MA CALL EMS " WERE THAT YOU ENCOUNTERED TOO OFTEN AT FLEA MARKETS , ANTIQUE & MILITARY SHOWS ? THAT IS JUST WHO TOOK THE TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A QUITE BUSY WAR TO MAKE SUCH SIMPLY MARVELOUS MASTERPIECES OUT OF ALL THINGS BUT BRASS WHICH IS A MOST DIFFICULT MEDIUM TO WORK WITH IF AT ALL!WELL WONDER NO MORE AS THIS TRENCH ART MASTERPIECE ANSWER ALL BOOK IS BUT THE "BIBLE" ON A VERY SPECIAL & UNIQUE TOPIC SELDOM EXPLORED IN TRUE DEPTH & DETAIL!THE BOOK IS VERY EDUCATIONAL AS WELL AS ENTERTAINING WITH ALL IT'S MANY EXCELLENT PRETTY COLOR PICTURES & WILL CERTAINLY PUT THE POLISH ON AN INSIGHT TO A WORLD AT WAR FROM NOW ANOTHER TIME , MENTALITY , CAUSE & CENTURY FOREVER PAST! THIS BOOK IS REALLY A MUST FOR THE HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR ALIKE!PRAY THAT WE NEVER SEE THIS TYPE OF WAR ART EVER AGAIN AS THE BOOK IS A STATEMENT OF THE ORDINARY TORTURED FRONT LINE SOLDIER SOULS TRYING TO FIND & CREATE BEAUTY FOREVER LOST IN A WORLD CONSUMED BY THE EVIL MADNESS OF TOTAL WAR! SOUND FAMILIAR? WHERE ARE ALL THESE LOST ARTISTIC SOULS NOW? PEACE! A+!

Jane Kimball has written a book of great value to those who have interest in this form of art. Her wrtting and illustrations bring forward the intricacies of area not generally understood. With this book, Mrs. Kimball is now accepted as recognized authority of trench art.

What an amazing compilation! The information is fascinating and the photos are beautiful. The author is clearly an expert, not only about Trench Art, but also in terms of how to present material in ways that make it come alive for the casual reader. The excerpts from letters written at the time make history come alive. It's fitting in this time of war to be reminded that beauty can survive despite the hell that surrounds it.

Trench art is unique, the creation of sometimes beautiful, often novel and perhaps practical objects of art. Very interesting aspect of both social and military history.

This book covers the World Wars in great detail. Techniques and numerous examples are covered. Writing style is informative and easy to read - the text is lavishly illustrated. Book covers older items (Napolionic bone carvings - not trench art in the literal sense, carved by French POWs in Dartmoor and Portland prisons), through to more recent conflicts such as Vietnam.

I collect trench art as a hobby. See reference below for a couple of my pieces:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze48sdz/id1.html

Wonderful book for any collector of trench art. Fascinating objects to collect - this book really helps to understand the background to these items.

A wonderful book, I just started to get interested in Aeroplane Trench Art and with this book it is easy to get interested in many other areas of trench art. Not very much info on Aeroplane Trench Art, but the many other areas of collecting such as lighters, vases, etc. are enough to fascinate anyone who has an interest in these items. The book is written well and the pictures are very beautiful, showing some very unusual and rare pieces. There should be some high interest in this book I would assume, as these pieces are quite available on sites such as E-Bay and the internet auction circuit, so it is a collectible that is easy to obtain and start a nice collection as soon as you want. Also with the availability it is a collectible I recommend if you have interest. A high quality book, with fascinating information & the glossy photos are gems. Beautiful book I would recommend, a lot better than some I have on the subject.

This is a really great book. The images jump out at you, but the text too is very good. I learned much from this book. Make sure that you get your copy of this book now. When they are gone, it will not likely be done again. My one complaint is the large size that makes it difficult to curl up and read.