bombard model - Tool

This rare bronze bombard model represents an exceptional example of early 18th-century European craftsmanship, produced during a period in which miniature artillery forms were created not for warfare, but for artistic, educational, and symbolic purposes.
These maquettes often served as presentation pieces, workshop study models, or status objects reflecting the prestige of military engineering and the artistic sophistication of the Baroque period.

The present model is decorated with rich iconography:
two cherubs (putti) holding stylized vegetal scrolls on the body, and a prominent lion’s head at the upper section, a motif strongly associated with Venetian and Northern Italian bronze foundries, where lions symbolized strength, authority, and civic pride.

The aesthetic vocabulary, flowing curves, dramatic ornamentation, and dynamic figures, is consistent with the late Baroque / early Rococo style, reflecting the artistic transition taking place in Italy and Central Europe during the early 1700s.

Importantly, this object is not a weapon.
It is a non functional decorative maquette with no operational mechanism or moving parts. The bore is sealed and the proportions are artistic rather than ballistic, confirming its purpose as a display or collector’s piece.

Historical Context:
Between the 17th and 18th centuries, master founders and metalworkers regularly produced scale models of cannons and bombards, both as demonstrations of technical skill and as diplomatic or commemorative gifts. Such pieces combined the symbolic power of artillery with the refined artistry of bronze casting, making them prized objects among scholars, noble households and military patrons.

Condition: Good, The piece has been cleaned and polished in the past, which has lightened or reduced the original patina; however, this does not diminish its decorative or historical interest. The underlying cast, details and craftsmanship remain fully preserved, and the cleaning allows the relief work and motifs to be appreciated with greater clarity.
Material: Solid bronze.
Origin: Italy, early 18th century.

A highly atmospheric and historically significant decorative model — an excellent acquisition for collectors of Baroque bronzes, early artillery maquettes, and post-medieval European metalwork.