This rare, signed French bronze naval cannon was made in the first years of the Republic, predating Napoleon's rule by nearly a decade. Few bronze cannons from this period survive and it is even more unusual to find one dated and with the original foundry mark and its original stepped naval carriage.
The cannon is a 1lb., two-inch bore French model 1786 Pierrier, numbered for the year the design was formalized and adopted as a standard. Historians believe that this cannon was the first French standardized model swivel gun. Pierrier were relatively short guns firing medium weight solid shot, designed for close range battering. Pierriers are similar to later carronades. The 1786 Pierrier were so successful they remained in use by the French Navy until 1854.
The top of the muzzle is inscribed with large ornate initials "AN" for Arm Inchese Nationale. The cannon is also inscribed that it was made by the Lecourant Foundry in the City of Rennes in the sixth month of the third year/anniversary of the founding of the French Republic (Lecourant a. Rennes en Vent Inchesse, 3me ann Inchese R Inchespublicaine). Vent Inchesse was the sixth month in the French Republican Calendar- it started between 19 February and 21 February and ended between 20 March and 21 March and the third year of the French Republic was 1795.
Only a handful of cannons from the Lecourant Foundry are known to exist. Etienne Lecourant was a bell and cannon founder known to have worked between 1775 and 1832. Historical documents survive that show the Lecourant Foundry of Rennes was commissioned to make military cannon in the late 1790's. As the capital of Brittany, Rennes was an important center of government and military power. The cannon is also marked on the trunnions, with one side listing the weight as 167lbs. and the other marked "No. 80."
In this period, bronze cannon were preferable but more costly and time consuming to make and a very small percentage of cannons made in France were bronze, most were iron. An artillery text written in 1780 notes that bronze was nine to ten times as expensive as iron. Unlike iron, bronze doesn't rust, important at sea when rust could make shot stick in the tube. If a cannon were to fail, iron would be a greater danger, likely to shatter and cause damage to men or ship, where bronze artillery would likely only split. Bronze could be cast to tighter tolerances; the tubes could be thinner, saving weight and they tended to be more accurate. Smaller caliber bronze cannon could be used on the top deck forward or aft and aimed at ships pursuing or being pursued by the vessel. Lower cannon decks could take larger caliber guns made of iron; heavier and unlikely to move out of their ports, these would be used for broadside shots amidships.
Any bronze artillery of this age is rare since many were melted down and recast as required for later conflicts. Gun suitable bronze was so desired that not only cannon were taken from defeated foes, but also bells and anything else of copper or brass available were considered fair spoils of battle.
The wood naval carriage is in excellent condition for its age, though two of the wheels have been replaced. This is common as wheels bear most wear over time.
Polished to a bright shine and with all marks deeply cast and clear, this cannon is as impressive visually as it is historically important- a great early example of French naval artillery.
