Live Auction 1546The Raglan Collection: Wellington, Waterloo and The Crimea And Works of Art from the Collection of the Marquesses of Londonderry
A RUSSIAN BRONZE 6 PDR PATTERN 1805 CANNON CAPTURED AT SEVASTOPOL
Lot 138

A RUSSIAN BRONZE 6 PDR PATTERN 1805 CANNON CAPTURED AT SEVASTOPOL

CAST AT THE KAZAN ARSENAL, FINISHED IN ST. PETERSBURG, DATED '1821', SERIAL NO. 553

Closed23 May 2014

Price Realised

GBP 86,500

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A RUSSIAN BRONZE 6 PDR PATTERN 1805 CANNON CAPTURED AT SEVASTOPOL
CAST AT THE KAZAN ARSENAL, FINISHED IN ST. PETERSBURG, DATED '1821', SERIAL NO. 553
Of five stages, with belled sighted muzzle, plain chase and second reinforce, the latter with trunnions and plain dolphins, the trunnions respectively numbered '22.32' (the weight in Russian poods and pounds, equating to approx. 375 kilograms) and 'No 553', first reinforce inscribed 'LITA/V/KAZANI/OTDELANO V SANKT/PETERBURGE/1821' in Cyrillic script, vent field with pierced vent, turned base-ring, and cascabel marked 'KAZANSKOGO LITYA' in Cyrillic script beneath the flattened cascabel button, on a modern display base
70 in. (178 cm.) long; 3¾ in. (9.5 cm.) diameter of barrel

Approximately 3000 Russian cannon of all types, sizes and weights were captured following the fall of Sevastopol and sent back to Great Britain. Some were given to towns and cities throughout the Empire to display as trophies, others found their way into museum collections and a small number were presented to notable families, the brace offered here having been given by a grateful nation to the family of the late Field Marshal Lord Raglan.

Specialist note

The Pattern 1805 field gun was designed by The Committee of Ministers established in 1802. Chaired by Count Alexey Andreyevich Arakcheev (1769-1834), the committee brought together the most respected scientists and skilled artillery officers of the day. This pattern of cannon remained in production until 1838 and a significant quantity of this 'Arakcheev artillery' saw active service during the Crimea. A number of similar cannon are displayed in reconstructed defences at Sevastopol.

Christie's would like to thank Igor Komarov, Director of The Feodor Tyutchev State Museum, Muranovo, for help in preparing this entry.