Hi guys, just got a trench art dinner gong? Amazing piece. The base plate is japanese, about 40 cm across, its brass with numbers round the outside and japanese characters all over it, It is then mounted on a timber plinth, would love to know what that is off? The supports and the crossbar are brass. The gong is a large shell 17cm across with 2 smaller shells to hang it from the crossbar. The 2 smaller shells have U 4 3 on the bottom. The large shell has Japanese characters on the base and a cross where its been fired. It is also engraved with a natives head on 1 side of it as decoration.
I know it was brought back from New Guinea but thats about all i could find out. Any help as to dating, valueing the item and identifying what shells its made from, and specially the big brass base plate will be much appreciated.Attachment 307330Attachment 307331Attachment 307332Attachment 307333Attachment 307334Attachment 307335

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