WW2 Trench Art Aluminium Cigarette Case Mosque & Ship Design North Africa

Vintage Second World War aluminium cigarette case with hand-engraved decoration and two separate enamel-backed picture panels. One side features an architectural mosque/temple scene under an arched border; the reverse shows a sailing ship against a blue background. The case is worked in the classic trench-art style associated with Italian POWs and local craftsmen in British-run camps across North Africa and the Middle East during the 1943-47 period.

This example came from the same lot as a named 1946 British soldier's "Liberation of Brussels" campaign-map case (W. J. Palmer), suggesting it was part of the same group of wartime personal effects. While the exact maker cannot be confirmed, the construction, engraving technique and motifs match known trench-art pieces produced in and around Egypt and the wider North African theatre.

Highlights:
Original WW2 / immediate post-war aluminium trench-art cigarette case
Hand-engraved floral borders and starburst tooling
Front enamel-backed mosque/temple panel
Reverse enamel-backed sailing ship panel
Engraved interior panels with traditional mid-century patterns
Part of the same lot as a 1946 named soldier's case (provenance note included)
Classic example of North African / Middle Eastern trench-art souvenir work

Condition:
Good vintage condition overall with age-related surface wear from handling. The enamel-backed panels remain bright with some light marks. Hinges and closure work as they should. Interior engraved panels show typical wear for a mid-century aluminium case. Please view all photographs for the best indication of condition.

Circa:
Approximately 1943-1947, consistent with WW2-era North African trench-art production and the provenance of the lot this came from.

Notes:
A characterful and well-decorated trench-art piece with dual scenes, increasingly hard to find in this condition. Ideal for collectors of WW2 memorabilia, North Africa campaign items and vintage tobacciana.