Cannon

Used as currency and bridewealth.

The collector thought the cannon was probably made in Brunei originally, and said these cannons were used by 'Dyak' people on their river boats in raids, before 1846. The collector purchased it from a Chinese merchant, who was collecting them from longhouses to melt them down for their metal.

Bronze cannon with wooden stand. The cannon (part a) has many patterns and geometric designs on the shaft. One end has a ribbed tube and the hole is closed; the other end is flared and has paper stuffed in the hole. Near the centre there are two circular protrusions to which the cone-shaped part that fits into the base is attached. The brown wooden disc (part b) has a centre hole which allows the disc to sit between the cannon and the base. The brown wooden base (part c) is rectangular with a raised middle and a centre hole where the cannon rests. The bottom middle of the base is also raised, with a simple decorative carving.