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50

Portable Bronze CANNON

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Asian Antiques Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,700.00 - 3,500.00 USD
Portable Bronze CANNON
Online Auction only, with advance bids accepted at iCollector and at the Gallery. No live bidding
in the Gallery, and tie bids go to the earliest bidder. All proceeds will go 100% to the World Peace Foundation Building Fund of Hadley, MA.
Used on ship as defense against Pirates, these Lantaka (as they are known) are Swivel-Cannons that can be moved around the ship and used in whatever direction the threat is coming from. This rare example was made in the Philippines by the tribal Maranao peoples in their long-obsloete factory in Marawi City, Lanao del Norte (where the Lantaka Museum showed this history until it burned down about 1996). 16-18th C. it has a Naga Sea-Dragon on top as its emblem and handle, and was used in the Sulawesi Sea on a medium-sized trading vessel until it blew-up from over-stuffing the barrel with the typical small stones, nails and anything they could get their hands on. (NOTE: This was a common occurance with these small-bore cannons when high-quality gunpowder was clandestinely acquired from the Dutch or Portuguese, who had no love for the Spanish who controlled the Philippines). Expertly repaired and put back into service at the time (a nice feature of authentication) this Lantaka has developed a fine bronze patina over the several centuries since use. A small example is shown in the UCLA catalog on page 167, with a minimal amount of information about them. A rare and important historical object....and a fine "looker" for a den or office. 55" long (about 140 cms) and weighing about 50 pounds.
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