Gun II.193 Bronze 8.33 pounder (7 seers) Calibre: 4.1"

Panjab, probably Lahore, Late 18th to early 19th century

This is one of several cannon produced between 1760 and 1825 based on ‘Zamzamah‘ or ‘Kim‘s gun‘, which was cast in Lahore in 1761. It is a fine example of the Mughal casting tradition already in the Panjab before the Sikhs took over. Similar pieces have been dated to as late as 1825.

The barrel is decorated in the Mughal style with palmette borders and a vase and flowers motif. The button is decorated with a lotus flower and the dolphins in the shape of makara (mythical water demons); motifs widely used in Indian art.

By the mid 1820‘s ornate cannon of this type were being replaced by simpler, more streamlined types which were both lighter and easier to produce. The closest contemporary British equivalent, a brass 9pr, introduced in 1719, weighed almost 531 lbs less and was a foot shorter.

At some point in its service life, probably in the 1820‘s, the barrel was remounted by Sikh engineers on a Napoleonic-style split trail carriage and aiming was improved by attaching a strap around the button connected to a capstan elevating screw.

Image©Royal Artillery Historical Trust