For various reasons I was going to wait for the auction to end on this miniature before making this post, but lo and behold, the auction "was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available." I wonder if this fine model now belongs to someone we know, or perhaps the seller was finally made aware of it's possible worth, and places where it might be more advantageous to sell it?
I think I have been able to track down the gun in question but can't find it illustrated online or a digital photo. It is II.193 from the Museum of Artillery in Woolwich- it was in their Guns of the Rajahs exhibitions a few years ago and it is described by Neil Carleton here: http://sikhspectrum.com/2005/11/lions-teeth-the-artillery-of-maharaja-ranjit-singh/
It doesn't really look to me like Portuguese or Dutch cannons.
Bob Smith
Bob,
I think that you are pointing in the right direction, because I believe the stylized heads depicted on the dolphins represent an Indian mythical creature called a Makara.
Here is a photo of an Indian bronze model cannon located at the Mehrangarh Fort Museum, Jodhpur. In this case (and a few others I've found) the Makara's fanciful head forms the muzzle. I've also seen Indian sword handles fashioned in the form of Makara heads.
Page 95, The Saga of Indian Cannons, R.Balasubramaniam, 2008.
See first and third figures on this page.
http://gallery.bizhat.com/showgallery.php?cat=2471&page=14Mythological Indian creature, Makara.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makara_%28Hindu_mythology%29Christie’s: "AN INDIAN CAST BRONZE MINIATURE CANNON"
The price realized on this model is fairly impressive.
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/arms-armor/an-indian-cast-bronze-miniature-cannon-probably-4979664-details.aspx
