{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O93837"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O93837/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT4424/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT4424/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MT4424","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O93837/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O93837","accessionNumber":"IS.15-1946","objectType":"Cannon ball","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This is an example of the rudely made hammered iron shot used extensively in India and reported widely by European observers from the 18th to the mid 19th centuries. Cast iron was not produced in quantity in the subcontinent, even by the East India Company, until the late 19th century. Until then the EIC relied on imported shot cast in British foundries. \r\n\r\nThis is a comparatively rare example of the mundane military technology of the Indian subcontinent. Produced in large quantities and with little intrinsic value or historical importance they have not survived except in a few citadels and arsenals such as Jaigarh in Rajasthan and Sriringapatna in Mysore. Most cannon balls found in the field are melted down and recycled by the local inhabitants.\r\n\r\nHammered iron cannon balls were considered of inferior quality for a number of reasons. The excessive windage (the gap between the projectile and the bore) significantly affected range. The irregular shape also had less range and more unpredictable flight. It also had a scouring effect, damaging the bores of bronze cannon barrels which further reduced accuracy. This particular example has a lead core and is roughly comparable to the shot of a 4pr. It may have originally have had a smoothing skin of clay applied to improve its characteristics.","physicalDescription":"Crudely made cannon ball of iron roughly hammered into shape with a cast lead core. The average diameter is roughly comparable with that of a 4 pounder.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Hammered wrought iron with a lead core","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MT4424"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES340224"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Cannon ball","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"India","id":"x29790"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"18th century or 19th century","earliest":"1700-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"3.25","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Approximately","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Historical significance: This is a very rare example of the mundane military technology of the Indian subcontinent. Cannon balls were regarded as strictly utilitarian items and produced in such large quantities that individual examples were seen to have little intrinsic value or historical importance. Consequently they were normally deemed unworthy of collection and have not survived except in a few citadels and arsenals such as Jaigarh in Rajasthan.","historicalContext":"Hammered iron shot was widely reported in use by Indian states such as Mysore by European observers in the 18th century and as late as 1848-9 by the Sikhs during the Anglo-Sikh Wars. Cast iron was not widely produced in the subcontinent, even by the East India Company, until after the middle of the 19th century. Until that Company relied on imported shot cast in British foundries. Hammered iron cannon balls were considered to be of inferior quality for a number of reasons. The excessive windage (gap between projectile and bore) significantly affected range. The irregular shape also had a detrimental scouring effect on the bore of bronze cannon barrels and caused balloting (ricocheting along the inside of the barrel) which further reduced accuracy.","briefDescription":"Hammered iron cannon ball with a lead core, India, probably 18th or 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.15-1946"],"accessionNumberNum":"15","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1946,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2004-02-25","availableToBook":true}}