Trench Art from the Soviet battleship Marat

[leproc]

Hello! I was looking at purchasing this, but I would like to run it by the community. This is supposedly a piece of trench art from the battleship Marat - a Soviet warship that fought during WW2.

The seller said that its from 1940. It is about 8 inches long and is made of heavy metal. The Slava clock in the middle is not original to the piece though.

Do you guys think that this is genuine? Also, do you guys think this might gain value over time? I'm mainly asking the latter because I'm aware that trench art is very finicky when it comes to value.

I'm also wondering what the words mean under the Marat moniker on the frame. It looks like KGB to my untrained eye, but I'm not terribly sure.

Thanks!

[Stive]

It can be possible the real Trench Art from the battle ship "MARAT". Inscriptions are put correct MARAT and KBF (KBF) the Baltic Fleet Decorated with the Order of the Red Banner.
Hours of SLAVA modern, release of 80 years of the 20th century.
But as well as any Trench Art originality is a subject of belief.

[Eric Gaumann]

It could be possible this is real Trench Art from the battle ship "MARAT". Inscriptions are MARAT and KBF (Baltic Fleet Decorated with the Order of the Red Banner.)
Clock made by company SLAVA (Glory) is modern, 1980s era.
But as with any Trench Art originality is the subject of belief.

Agreed, Stive, 100%. Thanks for helping here.
I 'translated' your reply to make it little more understandable but you are certainly correct.

[Stive]

Thanks! Some Russian specific words it is very difficult to translate Google translator with the help.

[Eric Gaumann]

Thanks! Some Russian specific words it is very difficult to translate Google translator with the help.

I have the same problems on the Russian language forums.

[ROBB]

Its not Trench art more a souvenir . I like it . Rob

[leproc]

It can be possible the real Trench Art from the battle ship "MARAT". Inscriptions are put correct MARAT and KBF (KBF) the Baltic Fleet Decorated with the Order of the Red Banner.
Hours of SLAVA modern, release of 80 years of the 20th century.
But as well as any Trench Art originality is a subject of belief.

Okay! It's the Baltic Fleet then. The seller thought it read Northern Fleet, which is a fleet that Marat never served in. Also, the Baltic Fleet already received the Order of the Red Banner before the war while the Northern Fleet received the Banner in the 1960s.

Thanks!

[leproc]

Its not Trench art more a souvenir . I like it . Rob

Souvenir? That's interesting. Did Soviet ships sell stuff to the populace like the US and UK ships?

[leproc]

I have an additional question for this:

How much do you think this item is worth...if you guys were deciding? I kinda would like to get it (I've been looking for artifacts for the elusive WW2 Gangut-class battleships), but I was wondering if the shopkeeper is giving me too high of a price.

He's asking for the latter $100s and into the $200s for it. If nothing else, it's bigger and sturdier than other Soviet warship pieces. The seller did find this in a flea market in Ukraine though, so I don't know how authentic an item like this is. On the other hand, Soviet warships aren't exactly money-makers, so people would probably not want to forge this as easily as Soviet medals or German militaria.

I also don't know if I can get a chance to see actual artifacts from Soviet warships, especially from the more frugal WW2 era.

Thanks!

[seb16trs]

It looks like cast iron, or cast alloy. It doesn't seem also to be made in huge quantities; really looks like artisanal mold and finishing. It could be genuine IMHO.

[leproc]

It looks like cast iron, or cast alloy. It doesn't seem also to be made in huge quantities; really looks like artisanal mold and finishing. It could be genuine IMHO.

Yeah. It's well-painted and its a monster sized piece.

I ended up buying it. Russian battleship pieces are rare as it is. If nothing else, I do have an interest in the not-so-well-known Gangut-class battleships .

[seb16trs]

I think you did well: 200usd aren't enough to make profitable a faking job.

If this thing was visible anywhere else (like soviet border signs), or sold at 2000usd, yes we could start to be worried, but it is not the case.

[leproc]

I think you did well: 200usd aren't enough to make profitable a faking job.

If this thing was visible anywhere else (like soviet border signs), or sold at 2000usd, yes we could start to be worried, but it is not the case.

Nice! The seller deals a lot with Soviet items, so I think he’s trustworthy. He also took a lot of pictures and answered my questions well.

It also helps that the WW2 Soviet Navy isn’t really profitable enough to fake. If nothing else, it’s size and color makes it one heck of a conversation piece .