Description

Antique WWI Period Brass Trench Art Pocket Lighter – Compact Petrol Wick Lighter – Military Collectable

Antique WWI Period Small Brass Trench Art Pocket Lighter

A charming example of an Antique WWI-era brass trench art pocket lighter, showcasing the simple yet ingenious design that made these compact petrol lighters popular with soldiers during the First World War and the years immediately afterwards.

Crafted entirely from brass, this pocket lighter features a removable protective cap, integrated wick, and striker wheel. Its compact size allowed it to be easily carried in a tunic or trouser pocket, making it an essential personal item for servicemen in the trenches. Many lighters of this type were handmade or adapted from available materials, giving each example its own unique character.

With its warm aged brass patina and honest signs of use, this lighter is a wonderful piece of military history and an attractive display item for collectors of trench art, WWI memorabilia, and antique smoking accessories.

Features

• Item: WWI Period Pocket Lighter
• Date: Circa 1914–1920
• Material: Solid Brass
• Type: Petrol wick lighter
• Design: Removable cap with striker wheel and wick
• Style: Trench art / military field lighter
• Origin: European, likely French or British wartime style
• Condition: Untested and sold as a collectable

Condition

The lighter displays an attractive aged brass patina developed over more than a century. There are marks, scratches, and surface wear consistent with age and use. The striker wheel and wick assembly remain in place, although the lighter has not been tested and is offered as a historical collectable rather than a working lighter. Please refer to the photographs, which form part of the description.

Historical Significance

During the First World War, reliable ignition was an everyday necessity for soldiers lighting cigarettes, pipes, candles, and small cooking stoves. Compact brass petrol lighters became highly prized personal possessions, and many were crafted or modified by servicemen using available materials. Today, these “trench art” lighters are appreciated for both their practicality and the stories they represent from one of history’s most significant conflicts.

Their minimalist engineering, compact design, and military association make them highly collectable, particularly when retaining their original brass construction and period components.

Whether you’re a collector of WWI militaria, trench art, antique smoking accessories, or unusual historical artefacts, this authentic brass pocket lighter is a fascinating piece of early 20th-century history and a wonderful addition to any collection.