Public domain

Cannon of the Amsterdam Admiralty

Gerrit Koster I · 1615 · casting; lead (metal); bronze (metal); iron (metal); copper (metal); tin (metal)

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

This ship's gun could fire massive iron balls weighing 18 pounds. The gun was primed by loading a ball with powder and a wad from the front, down the muzzle. The shot would be fired by lighting the fuse at the touch hole. To absorb the recoil, the 400 kilo cannon was mounted on a wheeled carriage. It took eight men to operate the gun.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description

Subjects

cannon Admiraliteit van Amsterdam Amsterdam

Credit lineCannon of the Amsterdam Admiralty. 1615. Gerrit Koster I. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.

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