TRIO OF CHINESE-FILIPINO BRONZE LANTAKAS.

SN NSN. Lantakas collectively take their name from Lake Lanao, the traditional stronghold of the Moro Sultans of Mindanao. All cannon made became the property of the Sultans, who doled them out to their followers. Orig lantakas come in many sizes the largest used for fortifications around Lake Lanao which were built to withstand assaults. Others were mounted on Moro sailing vessels with which the Moros raided Spanish shipping and settlements. It was during the period from 1550-1850 that the Moros built their fierce reputation. These Mindanao Raiders were the pirates of the Pacific Rim. The smallest lantakas, often only 4″ or 5″, were used like pistols without grips or stocks. There is no written record on the accuracy of these guns but they were made for close to 300 years so they must have worked. Lantaka cannon were originally made in at least two foundries in the Philippines. When the Spanish conquered the Philippines in the mid 16th century and brought Christianity, Muslim holdouts “Moors” or “Moros”, which natives of Mindanao are still known as today, maintained a foundry on Mindanao which has remained active under the same Chinese-Filipino family for over 300 years. The Moros were not innovators and designs never really changed. The Moros never used wheeled carriages and the lantakas would fit nicely into a forked stick or forked irons for support. Often large lantakas are mounted on swivel yokes. These small cannon simply cast with unrefined bores were not made to shoot specialized projectiles but typically any bits and pieces that could be used as projectiles such as rocks, gravel and bits of small metal or glass objects that were found. Many lantakas were taken home as souvenirs by American military during the occupation of The Philippines in 1899 after the Spanish-American War. American patrols in the southern islands would often be sprayed with gravel or a rock ball coming from a Moro shooting a lantaka and then fading back into the jungle. It took U.S. Captain John J. Pershing 10 years to quell the Moro insurgency in the Philippines. President Teddy Roosevelt promoted him directly from Captain to General for his pacification of Mindanao in 1911. With peace, the lantaka became a ceremonial object, and ownership of many fancy lantakas showed one’s wealth in Mindanao. The three lantakas offered here are among the most unusual of this genre you will ever encounter. 1) “Blunderbuss” lantaka is quite possibly not of Philippine manufacture but possibly from Japan as evidenced by the chrysanthemum decoration and finer workmanship. This gun measures 34″ overall with a 27″ bbl length, the bore being much better finished than most lantakas encountered. The bbl has a bore of about 1/2″ flaring to 2″ at muzzle, retains its orig bronze yoke and is bound with bamboo strapping over a long wood slat. The hollow 5″ tiller, like the rest of the gun, is much finer cast and finished. You will not find a better surface on a lantaka, and if you did not see the tiller you would believe it was of 18th century European origin. There is an old pasted collection number on bottom of mountings on this cannon. The “blunderbuss” design has not been seen on any other lantaka this consignor or cataloger has seen. 2) Elaborate 4′ long with orig cast bronze yoke lantaka with two dolphin lifting handles. As seen in photos, this cannon is decorated with numerous raised and incised arabesque diamond shaped panels. Bbl length measures about 42″, and bore unlike most lantakas is quite smooth, probably noting earlier manufacture. 3) Unique breechloading lantaka measures 37″ overall with about 26″ bbl length. This possibly unique example is very well made and designed in the 16th/17th century Chinese or Korean design of removable locking breech mechanism, which is missing, but was typically just a handled iron block with a protruding projection to lock breech for firing. What a collection of three of the most unusual lantaka style cannons you will ever see. One which is possibly Japanese, the second which is classic Mindanaoan, and the third which is influenced with Chinese design which was adopted by Korea also. LITERATURE: Most of the historical information listed here is taken from an article by Richard L. Baron, “Moro Mini-Cannon”. PROVENANCE: Springfield Arsenal, LLC Artillery Collection. CONDITION: All very good to fine with bronze patinas, as can be seen in photos. 4-54130 (2,000-3,000) – Lot 2073

Click here to view provenance

Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2073	$4,025.00	TRIO OF CHINESE-FILIPINO BRONZE LANTAKAS. SN NSN. Lantakas collectively take their name from Lake Lanao, the traditional stronghold of the Moro Sultans of Mindanao. All cannon made became the property of the Sultans, who doled them out to their followers. Orig lantakas come in many sizes the largest used for fortifications around Lake Lanao which were built to withstand assaults. Others were mounted on Moro sailing vessels with which the Moros raided Spanish shipping and settlements. It was during the period from 1550-1850 that the Moros built their fierce reputation. These Mindanao Raiders were the pirates of the Pacific Rim. The smallest lantakas, often only 4″ or 5″, were used like pistols without grips or stocks. There is no written record on the accuracy of these guns but they were made for close to 300 years so they must have worked. Lantaka cannon were originally made in at least two foundries in the Philippines. When the Spanish conquered the Philippines in the mid 16th century and brought Christianity, Muslim holdouts “Moors” or “Moros”, which natives of Mindanao are still known as today, maintained a foundry on Mindanao which has remained active under the same Chinese-Filipino family for over 300 years. The Moros were not innovators and designs never really changed. The Moros never used wheeled carriages and the lantakas would fit nicely into a forked stick or forked irons for support. Often large lantakas are mounted on swivel yokes. These small cannon simply cast with unrefined bores were not made to shoot specialized projectiles but typically any bits and pieces that could be used as projectiles such as rocks, gravel and bits of small metal or glass objects that were found. Many lantakas were taken home as souvenirs by American military during the occupation of The Philippines in 1899 after the Spanish-American War. American patrols in the southern islands would often be sprayed with gravel or a rock ball coming from a Moro shooting a lantaka and then fading back into the jungle. It took U.S. Captain John J. Pershing 10 years to quell the Moro insurgency in the Philippines. President Teddy Roosevelt promoted him directly from Captain to General for his pacification of Mindanao in 1911. With peace, the lantaka became a ceremonial object, and ownership of many fancy lantakas showed one’s wealth in Mindanao. The three lantakas offered here are among the most unusual of this genre you will ever encounter. 1) “Blunderbuss” lantaka is quite possibly not of Philippine manufacture but possibly from Japan as evidenced by the chrysanthemum decoration and finer workmanship. This gun measures 34″ overall with a 27″ bbl length, the bore being much better finished than most lantakas encountered. The bbl has a bore of about 1/2″ flaring to 2″ at muzzle, retains its orig bronze yoke and is bound with bamboo strapping over a long wood slat. The hollow 5″ tiller, like the rest of the gun, is much finer cast and finished. You will not find a better surface on a lantaka, and if you did not see the tiller you would believe it was of 18th century European origin. There is an old pasted collection number on bottom of mountings on this cannon. The “blunderbuss” design has not been seen on any other lantaka this consignor or cataloger has seen. 2) Elaborate 4′ long with orig cast bronze yoke lantaka with two dolphin lifting handles. As seen in photos, this cannon is decorated with numerous raised and incised arabesque diamond shaped panels. Bbl length measures about 42″, and bore unlike most lantakas is quite smooth, probably noting earlier manufacture. 3) Unique breechloading lantaka measures 37″ overall with about 26″ bbl length. This possibly unique example is very well made and designed in the 16th/17th century Chinese or Korean design of removable locking breech mechanism, which is missing, but was typically just a handled iron block with a protruding projection to lock breech for firing. What a collection of three of the most unusual lantaka style cannons you will ever see. One which is possibly Japanese, the second which is classic Mindanaoan, and the third which is influenced with Chinese design which was adopted by Korea also. LITERATURE: Most of the historical information listed here is taken from an article by Richard L. Baron, “Moro Mini-Cannon”. PROVENANCE: Springfield Arsenal, LLC Artillery Collection. CONDITION: All very good to fine with bronze patinas, as can be seen in photos. 4-54130 (2,000-3,000) – Lot 2073 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}

TRIO OF CHINESE-FILIPINO BRONZE LANTAKAS.