This pellet crossbow is dated to the 18th century from the Tuscany region of Italy. It features a wooden stock that curves downwards in the upper half, while the lower half of the stock straightens and extends to a carved protrusion toward the butt. The front of the stock forms a pointed triangular shape, while the butt flares out to the shape of a rifle. There are two sights, one in the middle of the stock and a U-shaped sight at the front of the stock. The prod and the trigger lever are made of iron. Attached to the prod, is a double string with wooden spacers and a cradle in the middle to hold the pellets for firing. The string of the bow is intact, though slightly frayed. The crossbow maintains some damage from woodworms but is generally in good condition. Measurements: Length 88cm

This target crossbow originates from the Flanders region of Belgium and is dated to either the 17th or 18th centuries. It features a heavy wooden stock with a curved and chiselled resting support that protrudes from beneath the middle of the stock. On the upper surface of the stock is a brass plate with a bolt groove for the crossbow arrows. Mounted to the front of the stock is an iron prod that is fixed onto the stock with iron plates on either side. The nut mechanism of the crossbow is missing. The trigger-guard is in a square shape and possesses a shaped scrolling decorative feature on both ends that flank the trigger guard. Attached to the prod is a square iron stirrup. On top of the stock is an iron windlass, a spanning device used to help pull the bow string back into place before firing the crossbow. The ropes of the windlass show signs of aging. Measurements: Length 99cm

This crossbow features a fine wooden stock with engraved checkered patterns on the lower part of the stock under the groove for the arrow and on the handle. The front part of the stock near where the ring is attached is covered in ivory, and the top surface of the stock is covered in iron, where a groove for the arrow to sit is indented in the middle. Along the groove the iron is engraved with flowers and petals, and up behind the iron bolt clip which holds the string in place when the crossbow is drawn an axe trophy, flags, and arms are engraved in the iron plate. The crossbow has an iron prod and ring and a bowstring, and an iron trigger and trigger guard. The trigger guard is engraved with a vase, a bird, and floral motifs.

This crossbow features a finely engraved wooden stock and a steel ring and steel prod attached to it with a rope bridle. Its bowstring is intact and its windlass is present. The wooden stock is entirely veneered by engraved ivory sheets. On the top of the stock in the surfaces flanking the groove for the arrow the bone is engraved with vine-like floral designs. Behind the locking mechanism the image of an eagle is engraved, followed by a sequence of winged cherubs and a goat around a pillar-like structure surrounded by flora. On the bottom of the stock right below the ring is engraved an image of a winged cherub with tentacles and a spear. After that is engraved a griffin framed by vines that leads into another cherub holding up a framed image of the side profile of a person. Along the sides of the stock, the engraving is split into two sprawling scenes. The top halves of the side veneers are engraved with crawling vines and flora, with the bottom half featuring engraved images of wildlife, hunting, and daily scenes involving humans and animals like rabbits, horses, unicorns, dogs, bears and birds. The butt of the stock is covered by an engraved bone plate depicting an elephant.

This crossbow features an iron stock with a wooden butt and iron prod. The crossbow retains its original bowstring, although it has been partially detached from the prod already. The sights, lock mechanism, trigger, and trigger guard are all also made of iron, and the armour lever on the stock is stamped with a design that might have been a maker’s mark The butt is lightly carved with floral designs and has parts missing. It has also been slightly damaged by moths.

This crossbow has a wooden stock shaped like a modern handheld firearm. It has an iron ring and an iron prod attached to the stock with brass mounts. Its sights and trigger are bronze as well, and its nut is wooden. Its original bowstring is still intact, and there is bronze plating around the sight and nut area attached to the stock. The butt of the crossbow has also been plated with bronze.

This target crossbow has a wooden stock shaped like a modern handheld firearm. It has been restored at the tip and has an iron prod and ring, mounted onto the stock by iron mounts. The top surface of the stock is veneered by an iron groove. This is where the arrow would rest, with an iron lock mechanism, trigger and peep sight. The butt of the crossbow is capped by metal and has two small protruding knobs. The crossbow is missing its string.

This crossbow features a wooden stock with small restorations and missing parts. The stock is richly inlaid with engraved bone and veneered on the top with bone plates. The bone veneers are engraved with leaf patterns across its length on the sides and near the nut and butt on the top. On the sides of the stock, patterns of fruits, vines, and rosettes are inlaid in engraved bone across the stock. On either side of the butt, a noble with a hawk perched on his arm and a lion are inlaid in engraved bone. The bone nut is held in place by a string which is covered by a piece of cloth to prevent its fraying. The crossbow has an iron prod attached to the stock with a rope bridle and its original bowstring intact. Along the prod runs the safety cord, with green woolen pom poms decorating the prod around the ring and the ends of the prod. The crossbow’s trigger and trigger guard are also made of iron.

This crossbow features a wooden stock veneered with engraved bone plates. The bone plates run along the top and the sides of the stock. The top plate has been engraved with a repeating scale-like pattern, and the sides have been engraved with a floral, vine-like pattern. The sides of the stock have also been inlaid with a carved bone garland and dots. The crossbow has a steel prod and ring attached to the prod by a rope bridle, and a rope bowstring. It has a snap lock mechanism and a metal trigger and trigger guard.

This Italian pellet crossbow is an old restoration. It features a wooden stock that curves down at the front, a design typical of its archetype. It has an iron prod mounted to the stock with iron mounts and a stout pyramidal spike at the front of the crossbow, potentially used to anchor it to surfaces for drawing. Its sights and trigger are also made of iron, and its bowstring is missing.The wooden stock is decorated. Below the sight there is an oval iron plate with floral flourishes engraved into it affixed onto the stock. At the ends of the curved section of the stock, there are carvings of a repeating loop pattern, and behind the sight there are two dips in the stock that have been finely carved with geometric designs. Behind those two dips the stock bulges out before narrowing back down into the butt, which is capped with a large pommel that has been chiselled on the outward facing side with a crowned crest. Inside, the pommel is chiselled with patterns of leaves.

This Italian pellet crossbow is an old restoration. It features a wooden stock that curves down at the front, a design typical of its archetype. It has an iron prod mounted to the stock with iron mounts and a pyramidal spike at the front of the crossbow, likely used to anchor it to surfaces for drawing. Its sights and trigger are also made of iron, and its bowstring is missing. Its stock features like engraving and sculpting near the rear sight. A circular, spiral, crest-like design is carved into the side of the stock, and above the trigger, the shape of the wooden stock swells into a bulge shape. The butt of the crossbow dramatically narrows into a point.

This Italian pellet crossbow features a wooden stock of square section (restored at the edge) that curves down at the front, a design typical of its archetype. It has an iron prod mounted to the stock with iron mounts and a pyramidal spike at the front of the crossbow, likely used to anchor it to surfaces for drawing. Its sights and trigger are also made of iron, and its bowstring is missing. Its iron surfaces are heavily rusted.