Gunlock (Flintlock) on a Dummy Breech of an 18-Pounder Cannon 1820

This is a "Gunlock (Flintlock) on a Dummy Breech of an 18-Pounder Cannon," made of wood and metal, by Rijkswerf Vlissingen. The Dutch Naval Dockyard of Vlissingen produced this model, likely in the 18th or 19th century. The object’s purpose seems didactic, perhaps intended to demonstrate the mechanics of early naval artillery. But consider what a symbol of state power the cannon was at this time. It represents not just military might, but also the complex social and economic systems required to produce and deploy such technology. We might ask, what does it mean to create a model of such a device? Is it a celebration of Dutch engineering prowess, or a commentary on the increasing mechanization of warfare? By studying the archives of the Vlissingen dockyard, we can better understand the social conditions that shaped its production, and its intended audience. The art historian seeks to understand these objects as products of specific social and institutional forces, and to reveal the complex meanings they held in their own time.