A RARE CHINESE BRONZE NAVAL CANNON 17TH CENTURY the barrel b...

Hammer

£165,000

A RARE CHINESE BRONZE NAVAL CANNON
17TH CENTURY
the barrel bearing an inscription: the third month of Qianlong  54th year, In the year of 1789.  Fu Jian Navy commander ordered the counting of the weapon from ‘Zuo Ying’; also further inscribed with the mark “Guo Xing Fu”, the cannon is supported on a wooden carriage.
Cannon model of No.20, weight: 430 kg. 166cm long (approx)

PROVENANCE: Acquired by a West Country military family in the early 20th century, thence by descent.

NOTE: Historic background of the cannon with ‘ Guo Xing Fu’ mark, refers to ‘Zheng Cheng Gong’ who was a Southern Ming general who resisted the Qing conquest of China in the 17th century and fought them on China's southeastern coast. This cannon was probably used by the navy of Zheng to fight the Qing navy during the time. In 1661 Zheng Chenggong defeated a Dutch outpost in Taiwan and established a dynasty, the house of ‘Guo Xing ye’.

There is a similar example in a Provincial Museum in Xiamen Place, China.

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More Information

Good overall appearance. Condition is consistent with many years exposure to the elements ad those effects on the bronze barrel, with some minor frost damage and oxidization. The carriage timbers are solid as are the wheels, but again consistent with the same period of exposure.