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Title
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Crossbow
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HCA Identifier
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E.1939.65.sx.[1]
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Collection Location
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Collection Glasgow Museum Collection, Glasgow Scotland
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Date
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Mid 15th century (approximately 1480)
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Location
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Northwest Europe
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Description
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This bow is a composite bow made from both animal horn and wood. The wood on this particular bow is yew and either wrapped are varnished in birch. The animal used to make this crossbow was most likely cattle horn and baleen from a seal. Baleen are the horn-like structures found in the mouths of whales and other aquatic animals that were used for composite bow construction. In this particular bow the birch varnish or finishing was painted to potentially resemble snake skin.
Although the composite bow was popular in the 13th century and was slowly phased out by the steel crossbow, composite bows like this one were still being used and constructed in the 15th century possibly because the wood made the bow less likely to break in the cold while hunting in the winter. A stag bone is also featured in the inlay of this crossbow which may have a decorative purpose.
Other notes Collection: R L Scott Collection
Materials/Media iron, sinew, wood, bone, ivory
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Source
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https://collections.glasgowmuseums.com/mwebcgi/mweb?request=record;id=242677;type=101
Collection Glasgow Museum Collection, Glasgow Scotland
