Gunlock (Flintlock) on a Dummy Breech of a 30-Pounder Cannon 1810 - 1820

This is a model of a gunlock, or flintlock, created by Rijkswerf Vlissingen. The piece is made of wood and metal, and depicts the firing mechanism of a 30-pounder cannon. What strikes me most is how the artist uses a contrast of materials and forms. The smooth, curved wooden base serves as a grounding element. Juxtaposed against this are the sharp, angular metal components of the lock. The gunlock is rendered with such detail that it invites close inspection, which heightens the viewer's awareness of the mechanics of warfare, and, thus, the relationship between technology and power. The model invites us to consider how functionality and design are interconnected. By deconstructing and re-presenting a fragment of a larger weapon, the piece prompts us to rethink our engagement with objects of conflict. It transforms what is destructive into an object of contemplation.