A fine small bronze cannon with multiple tapering stages on a later period stepped wooden British Naval Style carriage, this was made circa 1800. Given the European style and fine workmanship this was likely made at the Lucknow Arsenal under renowned Superintendent of Artillery and Arsenals, Claude Martin. Though French, in a time when Britain and France were at war, Martin worked under the British East India Company. Under Martin's supervision and training many arms of quality were produced at Lucknow by both European and native Indian armorers.
The Siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defense of British East India Company territory within the city of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After two successive relief attempts had reached the city and fighting of nearly five months, the defenders and civilians were evacuated from their holdings, which were then abandoned. However, the British Army would return the following year and retake the city.
The inscription on the cannon's second reinforce reads:
Taken at the Relief of Lucknow on the 19th November, 1857 By The Naval Brigade
And Presented To Mr. James King by J.W. Bone Esq., Royal Navy
on the 1st. January 1859 As A Token of Respect
H.M.S. SHANNON, a screw powered steam-sail frigate of the Royal Navy, was on her way to join naval forces in the Second China War when she was diverted to Calcutta to form a naval brigade and assist the British Army in opposing the Indian Mutiny. James Bone was an engineer in the first detachment of the brigade.
The SHANNON played an important role in the Indian Mutiny serving at the Battle of Cawnpore, the Relief of Lucknow in November 1857 and the final siege of Lucknow in March 1858. Five Victoria crosses were awarded to men of the Naval Brigade during the campaign. Though we have no record of the deeds done by Mr. King to deserve this recognition, it was surely through skill at deploying much larger pieces of artillery and crews against the Indian forces.
The cannon has excellent details throughout, with raised concentric reinforce rings between each section and a bell-shaped muzzle. This is a great combination of historic importance and elegant presentation for a cannon of this size.
