A lantaka for your kind comments

fernando · 3rd March 2013, 01:34 PM

For some time now i managed to dispatch my Ethno stuff and turned into European; options, you know ...
But one or another Ethno weapons never left my wish list.
Such is the case of the lantaka, of which i have just acquired this example in London last week.
Actually there were three of them in the shop but, for budget reasons, i bought the smaller one. It measures 70 cms., weighs some 7,5 Kilos and has a 23 m/m bore.
I don't have the faintest idea of its age, provenance and authenticity.
Could you guys post your opinions on this piece? If this is a knockoff, i beg you not to hit me hard, but still tell me the truth

... and don't pay attention to those whiskers, in front of the cannon muzzle. This one didn't come from London; it is my one eyed Sofia, that someone decided to knock at my door with such gift.

.

napoleon · 3rd March 2013, 05:17 PM

looking for comments mine would be NEAT!!! THANKS FOR SHARING

Battara · 3rd March 2013, 08:14 PM

An Indonesian lantaka, perhaps Borneo?

Sajen · 3rd March 2013, 10:22 PM

Agree with Jose. And look authentic. BTW, a lantaka is on my wish list as well!

fernando · 4th March 2013, 01:12 PM

Thank you José and Detlef.
Merci Napoleon.
Any idea of the age ... 19th century ?

laEspadaAncha · 4th March 2013, 05:37 PM

Your lantaka looks good from the photos, Nando... the trunnions are below the centerline as one would expect on an authentic example. Can you take and post a close-up photo of the touch hole?

Also, I got a kick out of the cat. Our own likes to be around anything that is sharp and pointy or goes bang - especially if there's a camera invovled...

M ELEY · 4th March 2013, 06:18 PM

Awesome lantaka, Fernando!! I have also always wanted one of these and hope to acquire one someday. Yours looks absolutely authentic. It shows honest aging with some wear to the decorations. Note that yours isn't as 'decorative' as other models, something that I like because it points to its use as a weapon versus as simple window dressing (poorer quality 19th c. pieces were used as currency, as wedding dowry, etc). Judging from the length (27") and size bore (just under 1"), this could have been either a signal gun or as a defensive weapon (or both!). The real small ones are less than a foot (party-poppers!), while the largest are truly huge cannons vs rail guns. They would have fired either a large shot (1/2" ball) or the equivalent of partridge shot. Based on the fact that the trunions are 'closed', yours is post-1750/1800. If the ends of the swivel were open, they would pre-date 1750 (I had to go over some old notes to find that fact!). As far as where it is made, I'll have to look over my notes on these. I seem to remember that the ones with alligator decorations, seahorse designs were Malay? The plainer ones were Borneo? Can't remember...

Good find, my friend!!
Mark

P.S. For those interested in the history/making of these cannons, google 'Cannons of the Malay Archipelago' by Don Davie. I've had this printed article for awhile and tried to attach the link, but it's being difficult!

fernando · 5th March 2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

... Can you take and post a close-up photo of the touch hole? ---

Sure thing Chris ... and also a close up of the tail interior. I think i will mount a 20 cms. bamboo cane tiller in it ; what do you think ... silly idea?

Quote:

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

... Also, I got a kick out of the cat. Our own likes to be around anything that is sharp and pointy or goes bang - especially if there's a camera involved...

You can't imagine my struggle trying to take pictures of collection items with them five around.
That's why i usually wait for their "siesta" time to perform my photographic sessions

-

fernando · 8th March 2013, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

An Indonesian lantaka, perhaps Borneo?

Indonesia is one thing, Borneo is another, no

?
But now i found an example with origin apparently attributed by a reliable source, said to be Moro from the Sulu Archipelago: HERE
I know nothing of these things, but the bamboo shoots (as per Willem) or fire tongues (as per local source) loock rather similar. Also the shaping of the barrel mouth and breech ring look familiar.
Does this make any sense ?

,

3rd March 2013, 01:34 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A lantaka for your kind comments For some time now i managed to dispatch my Ethno stuff and turned into European; options, you know ... But one or another Ethno weapons never left my wish list. Such is the case of the lantaka, of which i have just acquired this example in London last week. Actually there were three of them in the shop but, for budget reasons, i bought the smaller one. It measures 70 cms., weighs some 7,5 Kilos and has a 23 m/m bore. I don't have the faintest idea of its age, provenance and authenticity. Could you guys post your opinions on this piece? If this is a knockoff, i beg you not to hit me hard, but still tell me the truth ... and don't pay attention to those whiskers, in front of the cannon muzzle. This one didn't come from London; it is my one eyed Sofia, that someone decided to knock at my door with such gift. . Attached Images

3rd March 2013, 05:17 PM	#2
napoleon Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 88	lantaka looking for comments mine would be NEAT!!! THANKS FOR SHARING

4th March 2013, 06:18 PM	#7
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,093	Awesome lantaka, Fernando!! I have also always wanted one of these and hope to acquire one someday. Yours looks absolutely authentic. It shows honest aging with some wear to the decorations. Note that yours isn't as 'decorative' as other models, something that I like because it points to its use as a weapon versus as simple window dressing (poorer quality 19th c. pieces were used as currency, as wedding dowry, etc). Judging from the length (27") and size bore (just under 1"), this could have been either a signal gun or as a defensive weapon (or both!). The real small ones are less than a foot (party-poppers!), while the largest are truly huge cannons vs rail guns. They would have fired either a large shot (1/2" ball) or the equivalent of partridge shot. Based on the fact that the trunions are 'closed', yours is post-1750/1800. If the ends of the swivel were open, they would pre-date 1750 (I had to go over some old notes to find that fact!). As far as where it is made, I'll have to look over my notes on these. I seem to remember that the ones with alligator decorations, seahorse designs were Malay? The plainer ones were Borneo? Can't remember... Good find, my friend!! Mark P.S. For those interested in the history/making of these cannons, google 'Cannons of the Malay Archipelago' by Don Davie. I've had this printed article for awhile and tried to attach the link, but it's being difficult! Last edited by M ELEY; 4th March 2013 at 10:59 PM.

3rd March 2013, 08:14 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	An Indonesian lantaka, perhaps Borneo?

3rd March 2013, 10:22 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,769	Agree with Jose. And look authentic. BTW, a lantaka is on my wish list as well!

4th March 2013, 01:12 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you José and Detlef. Merci Napoleon. Any idea of the age ... 19th century ?

4th March 2013, 05:37 PM	#6
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Your lantaka looks good from the photos, Nando... the trunnions are below the centerline as one would expect on an authentic example. Can you take and post a close-up photo of the touch hole? Also, I got a kick out of the cat. Our own likes to be around anything that is sharp and pointy or goes bang - especially if there's a camera invovled...