This heavy brass barrel cast in relief is a rather unique artifact, with artistic touches replicating a much larger cannon barrel, dated from 1563. Complete with a medallion showing a male ruler's profile, beaded designs on the reinforces where the segments would have connected, the cascabel is completed in a floral motif. Foundry work shows some of the cast seams, and the brushed bronze patina is attractive, if not completely accurate. A shield and coronet without a city or district identifier is set before the touch hole, and plain handles and carriage trunions complete the cannon.
The black powder barrel is set on a carved wood truck carriage with several risers, and hard iron hardware, all set on wooden turned wheels secures at the axles with cotter pin spikes. Not sure the representational scale to the original cannon, but it appears this barrel may have seen some use, as possibly a signaling device and saluting cannon, and likely other purposes.
The cannon measures 25 inches in length with a 1⅜ inch bore centered in a 3½ inch muzzle diameter. There are six sections between the cascabel and the mouth, all with implied dual reinforces where they meet. The carriage measures 22½ x 11½ x 11½ inches, making the overall length approximately 31 inches. A quite rare and different cannon for any collection.
