Physical description

An ashtray made from a 85 mm artillery shell, inside the ashtray there is a small arms cartridge firmly embedded in the internal primer housing/ the shell has been cut to a height of 40 mm and the rim has been scalloped/ the base diameter is 85 mm/ the item does not sit flat because a small arm cartridge has been firmly wedged into the external primer housing and is not flush to the surface, it protrudes about 5mm out of the base.

Inscriptions & markings

On the base in stamped or engraved "5 - DE - C (believed to be the lot number of the casing; F - R - E 99 16 X" around the external surface is engraved ''FRANCE - AUDRUICQ" and the side are further decorated with engraved flowers