POST MEDIEVAL TOY

1675

A complete cast copper-alloy "toy" cannon of Post Medieval date, probably about AD 1675 - 1725. The toy is described as if it were a functioning cannon.The cascable (or cascabel) and the cascabel button has a length of about 8.6mm. The base ring diameter is 9.7mm. Between the base ring and the astragal, the vent field has a length of 4.6mm and the circular vent itself has a diameter of 1.5mm. This vent is sometimes referred to as a 'touch-hole'. The trunnions are set about mid-way down the side of the barrel and are circular in cross-section. The trunnions sat in the top of the cheeks of the gun carriage and enabled the piece to be elevated. The muzzle flares and has an outer diameter of 6.8mm. Overall, the cannon is 52.1mm long, 17.8mm wide and 9.6mm thick. 9.6g. It is dark brown and green.Compare IOW-3B5F14 which notes that: "The cannon is probably a working model and miniature cannon such as this example may not have been toys for children but may have been used by adults." and that "The terminology used in this description has been taken from Blackmore 1976: 216. Blackmore, H. L. 1976. The Armouries of the Tower of London. Vol. 1, Ordnance. London: HMSO."See also SOM-A38A21 which notes that "Forsyth and Egan (2005:80-81) discuss toy cannons and suggest those that actually fired were very popular by the end of the 16th century but the majority show features that were developed in 17th - 18th century. This example is most similar to their Type 2 Design 1 (p.82, 1.5) although with a much more projecting cascabel and raised ring at the trunnions. They suggest this type is from the late 17th to early 18th century."