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Title
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Crossbow of Count Ulrich V of Württemberg (1413–1480)
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HCA Identifier
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04.3.36
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Collection Location
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https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/21940
Collection Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
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Date
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1460
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Location
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Stuttgart, Germany (most likely)
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Description
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This crossbow, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is dated back to 1460 indicated by the carved staghorn decoration. It is the oldest dated crossbow in existence and belonged to Count Ulrich V of Württemberg of what is now Stuttgart Germany indicated by his family’s Coat of Arms carved into the staghorn. It is also decorated with Hebrew inscriptions which is rare considering the owner of the crossbow was a Christian. It is a composite bow made from wood, animal horn, animal sinew, staghorn, and copper alloy for the lever. The construction of the now is accredited to Heinrich Heid von Winterthur which is suggested by the employment records referring to Heinrich Heid von Winterthur as either “crossbow maker” or “crossbowman” as well as the lack of documented crossbow makers in the area at the time.
Materials/Media Wood (European hornbeam), horn, animal sinew, staghorn, birch bark, iron alloy, copper alloy, pigment
Dimensions/Measurements Length: 71.2 cm Width: 65 cm Weight: 2972 g
Other notes Rogers Fund, 1904
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Source
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Collection Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
