Model of an 80-Pounder Shell Pivot Gun on a Ship Deck 1839

This is a model of an 80-Pounder Shell Pivot Gun on a Ship Deck, made by Rijkswerf Vlissingen. Shipyard models like these offer insight into the technological advancements and colonial expansion that defined their era. Consider the social hierarchy embedded within the ship's structure. Officers navigate the upper decks, while the lower levels, often cramped and disease-ridden, house the working class and enslaved people who powered these vessels. The gun itself symbolizes power and domination, reflecting the complex relationship between the colonizer and the colonized. This model invites us to reflect on the human cost of maritime power, and the violence inherent in the pursuit of trade and territorial control. It is a reminder of the many lives impacted by the legacy of colonialism and maritime conflict.