Dragon Gun from Myanmar

This 2.75-inch SBML (smooth bore muzzle-loading) bronze gun is elaborately cast in the form of a dragon. It is thought to have been made in a local gun foundry in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) in the late 18th or early 19th century. It would have fired a projectile of over two pounds in weight but was probably used for ceremonial purposes rather than as an operational field gun.

The gun is one of four dragon guns captured on 28 November 1885 from King Thibaw's Palace in Mandalay, Myanmar during the Third Anglo-Burmese War. Following a trade dispute, Britain had sought to bring Burma under British control. When Burma refused, Major-General (later Sir) Harry Prendergast led an invasion of over 3,000 British and 6,000 sepoy (Indian) troops. Just two weeks later, Mandalay had fallen, King Thibaw was taken prisoner, and thousands of weapons seized.

Following its arrival in Britain, this gun was mounted on an ornate mahogany carriage made in 1858 by Henry Morris, Master Wheelwright, at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Originally presented to Queen Victoria, and housed at Windsor, it was transferred to our collection in October 1930. Two of these dragon guns are in our collection; the other is less colourfully painted, suggesting that the decoration might not be entirely original.