Description:

East Asia, China, ca. 17th century CE. A fine cast-iron hand cannon of a twin-barreled form mounted atop a slender wooden pole with a narrow socketing shaft. The cannon is composed of two parallel barrels held in place by four wrapped ovoid rings. A small tab-shaped sight near the end of one barrel has a small perforation underneath for igniting the compacted gunpowder held inside, though it also serves as an impromptu flash pan if the barrels are turned sideways. Chinese hand cannons - also known as a "handgonne" - were a shoulder-mounted weapon that was held by one soldier and fired by a second. These weapons were capable of firing .50 to .70 caliber projectiles, and paved the way for the development of modern-day firearms. Size: 65.125" L x 3.25" W (165.4 cm x 8.3 cm).

Provenance: private Los Angeles County, California, USA collection

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#136111

  • Condition: Loss to tab sight on opposite side of barrel. Surface wear commensurate with age, expected oxidation to iron components, with small nicks and light roughness to wooden handle. Light earthen deposits throughout.

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July 19, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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