Object Description
A fine bronze naval 5 stage signalling cannon on a naval dockyard elm carriage with bronze wheels.
Old repairs to the carriage. England, Circa 1820.
Small naval signalling cannons, often known as signal guns or salute guns, have a rich history dating back to the late 17th and 18th centuries, serving as a non-lethal, functional, and ceremonial tool aboard ships and on land. Unlike primary armament cannons, these smaller weapons were designed to communicate and alert.
Small, fireable, decorative cannons were popular from the late 17th century onwards, frequently used in naval contexts.