Lantaka were a type of bronze swivel gun mounted on merchant vessels travelling the waterways of Malay Archipelago.  There use was greatest in precolonial South East Asia. These guns were often used to defend against pirates.

This is a 32 ¾” Lantaka deck cannon / swivel gun. Cast of solid bronze with a 1" bore and weighs about 27 pounds.  A collar and yoke would have been attached to the trunnions and mounted on a ship. This is decorated with scrolls and leafy vine designs that cover the length of the cannon. This Lantaka has a clear bore with open vent.  Firing small cannon balls it was a powerful offensive and defensive weapon. Lantakas were manufactured during the 17th and early 18th century in Holland by Dutch East India Company for export to Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines.  Later in the 18th century most of them were cast in Indonesia by Dutch colonists and also by local people.  Since the bronze cannons were very expensive they became a symbol of wealth and a form of currency; the more cannon a man owned the greater his wealth.  Many were brought back as souvenirs by WW II servicemen.  This bronze cannon is overall in very good condition with good aged patina.   [jet]

May require extra shipping.

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