Polished Steel Nine Stage Coastal Defence Cannon, English, C 1900

A demonstration or museum model of a civil defence traversing cannon. This bronze scale model of a defence cannon rests on a solid ebony carriage with working blocks and tackle to run the barrel out. It is set on a Derbyshire black marble base inset with a spoked pivot pin in the centre of a circular rail and a second curved rail for the two pairs of trucks to follow, thus allowing the gun to swivel or ‘traverse’ from side to side. It is mounted on its original walnut table with quadrant spandrels supported on four sturdy turned and reeded legs. There is a plaque reading ‘Model...

Pair of antique English naval cannon each with a tapering three stage barrel flanked by plain trunnions, with a knob shaped cascabel button before a shaped rectangular raised vent and ending in a 3 1/2” bore muzzle, enclosing a removable conforming wood plug, circa 1800. Stood upon a naval type bronze-mounted four wheeled wooden carriage, including its wedge shaped quoin with knob handle. The Earls of Lonsdale, Lowther Castle, Cumbria, presumably by descent to Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale (1857-1944), until sold by his heir and brother, Lancelot, 6th Earl, as part of the contents of Lowther Castle, Maple & Co. Ltd./Thomas Wyatt, Tuesday 14 April 1947 and two following days, lot 558: ‘A pair of Old Gun Metal Cannons on teakwood carriages, 3ft. 6in. long’. Mrs. P.M. Adie-Shepherd, sold Christie’s, London, 29 May 1970, lot 96. Lowther Castle is a castellated mansion built by Robert Smirke between 1806 and 1814 for William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale (1757-1844). It was constructed on the foundations of the former 17th century family seat, Lowther Hall, but it was only in the early 19th century that it was afforded the name ‘castle’ in keeping with the Europe-wide fashion for romanticism and which was promoted by influential characters such as William Beckford at Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire in England and by the writer Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford, Roxburghshire, Scotland. While it’s not known when these naval cannon were acquired for Lowther they would have been entirely fitting in the castle or its approaches and it’s likely that they were in place soon after the castle was completed, or perhaps acquired later by the 5th Earl. A tantalising possibility is that the cannon were originally aboard the East Indiaman Lowther Castle which was active in the early 19th century. HUGH CECIL LONSDALE, 5TH EARL OF LONSDALE (1857-1944) AND THE DEMISE OF LOWTHER CASTLE In 1882 at the age of 25 Hugh Lonsdale (1857-1944) unexpectedly inherited the earldom and with it the extensive Lonsdale estate, including tens of thousands of acres of Cumberland and Westmorland and coalfields at Whitehaven. However, despite his spectacular inherited wealth – he was suddenly one of the wealthiest men in England, over the course of his lifetime he managed to decimate the family fortune. He led a full and colourful life, one of adventure and luxury. An early intrepid escapade took place in July 1888 when, as part of an expedition called the Scotch Naturalist Society, he set embarked on horse sleigh...

A fine pair of English bronze signal cannon, the tapering 36 inch two stage barrels set upon original mahogany carriages with bronze fittings and ...

A fine pair of bronze cannon by McAndrew and Woore, set on their original brass bound black painted oak carriages with brass spider wheels, also with a p...

Fine pair of mid-19th century English bronze cannon with tapering 41" barrels and flared muzzles, the top of each breech engraved with the family crest o...

This pair of early Victorian three-stage bronze signal cannon are set on elm carriages with bronze fittings. Each 39 inch tapering barrel has one reduction and a ball cascabel. Th...

Signal cannon with a polished steel barrel and elevating screw mounted on a wooden carriage with steel rims to the wheels. Barrel length 6 inches Dimens...

Pair of English port and starboard polished steel ship lanterns with Fresnel lenses, vented tops, and mounting handles. Meteorite Firm. Early 20th ...

Small English table cannon in bronze Beautiful object in good condition Beautiful patina.

Pair of English polished steel ship lanterns. Signed by maker , Meteorite and stamped Port and Starboard. Dealers please call for trade price.

English monumental polished steel carving set with inlaid eagle bone handles depicting E. pluribus unum motto. Stamped with Hallmarks in Silver S.H. Samue...

English Brass & Wood Desk Top Model of a Signal Cannon England, circa 1950s An English brass & wood desk top model of a signal cannon, a mid 20th century example. This delightful...