Is this a gun or a work of art ?

[klem]

Can someone tell me what this is?

 

[TomS]

Can someone tell me what this is?

There is a set of pictures that seems to be circulating online. The usual caption on these pics reads "Curious revolver cannon invented by King of Siam Mongkut (Rama IV) in the second half of XIX century. Currently on display in Bangkok National Museum." No idea if it was meant to actually work or not -- it certainly looks to be more of a curiosity than an attempt at a true weapon of war. But Rama IV was known as a scientific modernizer, so I don't doubt he might have encouraged such an experiment.

https://theoldarmor.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F173992947899

View: https://theoldarmor.tumblr.com/post/173992947899/curious-revolver-cannon-invented-by-king-of-siam

Mongkut - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[klem]

Can someone tell me what this is?

Thanks TomS.