An early cannon identified

[Ed]

Interestingly, shortly after this exchange the barrel below came up on Thomas del Mar:



Dated 1553

[Ed]

While Matchlock's opinion on ancient firearms is unassailable, he can often be found lying about himself.

Thank you so much for your most kind introduction but the truth is that your range of knowlegde is much wider than mine could possibly be,

Seriously, we are very fortunate to have him with us.

[Ed]

Finally ... after some thought I made a mount that is "in the style of" the 16th c.






and so it is currently displayed.

[Matchlock]

I would like to add a few detailed images of the bronze cannon barrel dated 1553 from Tom Del Mar's London sale that Ed posted.

Actually, there was a pair of barrels in that lot, one of them heavily damaged.

Please note the significant staging of the barrels, the inscription ANNO DOMI/NI and the date 1553, plus an owner's coat-of-arms, all cast and chiseled in high relief. The prolongated muzzle head closely corresponds to Ed's iron barrel of ca. 1540, although bronze barrels usually follow a more refined style scheme.

Matchlock