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Title
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A 15th century German crossbow
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Collection Location
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Powerhouse Collection, Sydney, Australia
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Date
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c. 1470
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Location
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Possibly Nuremberg Armoury, Bavaria, Germany
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Description
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This sporting crossbow has a steel prod that is attached to the wooden stock, inlaid with a rope of hemp or sinew. The string is missing. The stock is made of pear wood and inlaid with bone and is clearly worn out. It depicts hunting scenes on both sides surrounded by vine and floral designs. There are angel-like figures and children featured on the stock, along with birds, one of which seems to be an eagle or gryphon. There is a figure near the prod binding holding a fabric that blooms into multiple flower arrangements. The wooden cheek rest has rotted as evident by the black marks. The rear sight is folded over towards the direction of the nut, and there seems to be an array of spiral designs around the trigger mechanism and the nut lock which lacks a bolt clip. According to the source, there is a maker’s mark underneath the stock indicating the crossbow was produced by the Nuremberg Armoury, but the volunteer inspecting the crossbow could not identify it. The transverse pin, the trigger guard, and the setting chord are still preserved.
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Source
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Powerhouse Collection
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Link:
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https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/244737
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Crossbow Top Measurements
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170mm in height, 585mm in width and 620mm in depth
