A Wonderful Large Antique Bronze LANTAKA Cannon
A Wonderful Antique Bronze LANTAKA Cannon, circa. 17th-Early 18th Century. 55.25" bronze tube with a 1.5" bore. Very pleasing green age patina. Original post & yoke swivel. One of the Serpent lifting handles was broken off during the period of use. A fantastic example from the golden age of Piracy !!!
Distance between trunnions is 6.5"
Breech width is 5.75"
Bore is 1.5"
Diameter at muzzle is 5.75"
TTI-540420
Note: Shipping and Insurance is NOT included. Please inquire for a shipping quote.
PRIVATE COLLECTION.
Ref. Wikipedia; Lantaka: (Rentaka in Malay, also known as Kanyon in Tagolog), a type of bronze cannon mounted on merchant vessels traveling the waterways of Malay Archipelago. They were used in great numbers and various sizes in precolonial South East Asia especially in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
The guns were primarily used to defend against pirates demanding tribute for the local chief, or potentate. They varied in weight from a few pounds to over a ton ! The small examples under 200 lbs. were usually mounted with a swivel post & yoke to be set up anywhere on a ship or fortification. The heavy cannon were mounted on gun carriages. These cannons were mainly made at the foundries in the Malacca and Pahang with later patterns from the foundries in the Netherlands and Portugal and finally in Brunei. They became so popular that the Dutch and Portuguese quickly learned that they could make and trade these cannon for goods but also for safe passage through pirate infested waters !