Brass birth cannon, Borneo, 1801-1900

Made:
1801-1900 in Borneo
Brass birth cannon from Borneo, 19th century Brass birth cannon from Borneo, 19th century Brass birth cannon from Borneo, 19th century

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Brass birth cannon from Borneo, 19th century
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Brass birth cannon from Borneo, 19th century
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Brass birth cannon from Borneo, 19th century
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Brass birth cannon from Borneo, 19th century

Abstract patterns surround the muzzle of this brass birth canon. It comes from Borneo in South East Asia. It was reputedly used in the 1800s during difficult labours, possibly to scare off evil spirits. The canon has sights located along the top. A touch hole for ignition is near the back.

Details

Category:
Ethnography and Folk Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A89292
Materials:
whole, brass
Measurements:
overall: 68 mm x 317 mm x 52 mm, 1.743 kg
type:
birth cannon
credit:
Evans, J.H.