Bronzen kanon VOC Hoorn 1766

This is a bronze cannon, likely cast in the Netherlands for the VOC, or Dutch East India Company. We know it was made by De Wed I.N. Derck, but that is all the metadata tells us. Consider the material: bronze, a mixture of copper and tin, both valuable commodities. Casting bronze is a complex process involving mold making, melting, and pouring. The resulting cannon embodies both a high level of craft and significant social power. The VOC was a trading company with a private army, essentially a state within a state. The cannon’s very existence speaks to the intertwined histories of commerce, colonialism, and conflict. Every detail, from its weight to its smooth bore, was carefully considered to maximize its destructive potential. It is a reminder that even objects of great craftsmanship can be implicated in wider systems of exploitation and violence. Understanding how the cannon was made, and the purposes it served, is crucial to understanding its full significance.