Spanish bronze rifled gun plus French piece sold $$$

Won’t be coming here, high estimate was $6k, sold for nearly $40k. I’d never seen one of these with original carriage before. I think even the wood is original.

The next numbered lot, 3353, was a French 1-pounder heavy swivel gun Model 1786 on an old oak carriage of unknown origin. Wheels are buggy wheels for whatever that means. It has an unusual percussion firing lock I’ve never seen before. It was estimated at $4k, went for nearly $30k.

 

Just curious. Given those prices... Who are the buyers for these types of items? Well-heeled collectors or institutions?

Debora

 

Collectors, or dealers who think they can profit.

If I was still collecting cannons as actively as a decade ago I would still have been in the bidding for the Spanish one, if money was a problem I’d just get a loan as I did many times back then. I’d pay them off quick by selling other stuff or whatever. Back when I was getting offers of credit cards almost every day I’d only apply for those offering low-interest balance transfers, and transfer any higher-interest balances to them. That was back ca. 1990’s, I never get such offers anymore even tho my credit score is maxed.

‘Institutions all want donations.