Existing comment:
Gunner's Level
1614
Christopher Trechsler
Fitted into the mouth of a cannon, this gunner's level was designed to sight targets, improve the precision of the weapon's aim, and ease calculation of the ball's trajectory. Gunner's levels could measure angles much more accurately than cannons could shoot, and were rarely used on the battlefield. Beautiful versions like this were kept in the Kunstkammer to incite learned discussions of ballistics. The object's function is reflected in its ornamentation: the spandrels are engraved with war paraphernalia, including a cannon, shield, breastplate, and muskets. |