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

This is a gunlock or flintlock on a dummy breech of a 30-Pounder Carronade, made by Rijkswerf Vlissingen. Cannons like this represent a complex intersection of power, trade, and technology. During the time they were used, the Dutch Republic was a major maritime power, relying on ships and cannons for both commerce and defense. The state-owned Rijkswerf Vlissingen, where this gunlock was made, symbolizes the Dutch Republic’s investment in military infrastructure. The dummy breech here offers us a safe way to examine a complex device. Canons, and the ships on which they were mounted, have been used to perpetuate colonialism, slavery, and global conflict. As you look at this object, consider how technological advancements like this have been used to affect the lives and identities of people across the globe.