Gunlock (Percussion) on a Dummy Breech of a 12-Pounder Cannon 1836

Editor: This is a Gunlock on a Dummy Breech of a 12-Pounder Cannon, created in 1836 at Rijkswerf Amsterdam. Initially, the contrast of materials and mechanical form create a kind of steampunk aesthetic. What catches your eye most about it? Curator: It's not just the steampunk vibe that hits you first; it's the whiff of history, isn't it? I find myself imagining the craftsmen, dedicated to their work, almost meditative in their precision. I see ingenuity in that metallic lever, ready to spark, even on a ‘dummy’ breech. A longing, perhaps, for an era when things were crafted with meticulous hands, not stamped out by machines. Makes you wonder, what's *our* contribution to that legacy? Editor: That’s a beautiful way to think about it. I hadn't considered that sense of human touch in contrast to the destructive potential of the cannon. It is like a beautiful artifact representing this tool for battle. What do you make of its specific cultural or historical context? Curator: I think about Amsterdam at this point, one of the European centers of craftsmanship and weapon making. Also the legacy of innovation! One wonders if the artist saw the future: our blend of destruction and beautiful creation? Editor: It’s almost as if this object encapsulates a moment in time, standing at a crossroads. I leave looking at this old object, and wondering how we think about the impact of technology, now and in the future. Curator: Precisely! It encourages one to be a little more introspective. As artists, and as people, what do we leave behind? Something beautifully made, or something to be afraid of?