Splendid Gold And Silver Fully Decorated Japanese Matchlock Wall Cannon (Tanegashima) Circa 1825

Weighing 10.4 pounds, the 27 and 1/2 inch 54 caliber heavy iron barrel with pronounced faceted cannon muzzle is decorated from breech to muzzle in gold and silver nunome depicting a huge dragon with zogan silver eyes coiling around a heavy zogan silver mon. The dragon is faced with a large gold and silver ho-ho bird whose feathers reach the muzzle.

The brass lock with nonuse inlaid iron serpent. All of the usually missing parts such as pan cover, fence, and key are present. Beautiful red oak stock is excellent with no cracks or chips. Barrel inlay is excellent with only minor wear to gold and silver. Brass furniture is uncleaned. Barrel has not been dismounted but this lovely matchlock is almost certain to be well signed.

42.5 inches overall. This beautiful piece of the Japanese gunmaker’s art has particularly fine form as well as quality, condition and rarity. Even the matchlock mechanism is perfect.

A simply wonderful cannon.