NETHERLANDS. Bronze barrel of 2 ( cal: 57 mm) engraved on th - Lot 313

NETHERLANDS. Bronze barrel of 2 ( cal: 57 mm) engraved on the flight "A VOC", above, between the two reinforcement rings "PIETER SEEST ANNO 1756", presence of 3 reinforcement rings, presented on a marine carriage of contemporary manufacture. Dimensions: overall length: 108 cm, muzzle diameter: 11.5 cm, breech diameter: 19 cm, trunnion diameter: 50 mm, calibre: 55 mm, approx., carriage: L: 71.5 cm, W: 33 cm. Total weight: 250 Kg approx. Beautiful green patina. 18th century. BE (wear marks) COMPAGNIE des INDES ORIENTALES. The VOC marking stands for "Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie", literally "United East India Company", the A for the Amsterdam Admiralty, the principal of the 6 independent entities making up the company. These light cannons equipped the company's ships, which were subject to pirate attacks along the long route to the Asian trading posts. PIETER SEEST. Born in Holstein in 1716, he was appointed foreman of the Amsterdam cannon and bell foundry in 1755, and became its director in 1770. An identical tube is in the HL Visser Collection (see R. Roth, The Visser Collection, Arms of the Netherlands in the Collection of H.L. Visser, Vol. II, Zwolle 1996, pp. 130-131).