18-cm Palliser Shell 1869

This 18-cm Palliser Shell was created by the Royal Laboratory, an English armament factory, during a period of intense imperial expansion. The shell embodies the technological advancements that enabled European powers to exert their dominance across the globe. The shell’s design, with its pointed tip and sturdy construction, speaks to the violence of the colonial project. Consider the human cost of such weaponry – the lives disrupted, the cultures suppressed, and the environments devastated. This object, while appearing inert in a museum setting, represents a legacy of conflict and oppression. The weight of the shell is not just physical; it carries the weight of history, raising questions about power, ethics, and the lasting impact of military technologies on societies and individuals. It serves as a stark reminder of the complex relationship between progress and destruction.