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Title
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French Pellet Crossbow
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Collection Location
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
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Date
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late 16th to early 17th century
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Location
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France
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Description
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This is an extremely decorative pellet crossbow with the stock most likely composed of cherry wood and a steel prod. The stock is engraved with flowing vines, lined leaves, and flowers at their tips and lines cross over them in the front, most likely inlaid with mother-of-pearl. A wolf or fox is pictured under the line along with muscled man with armbands and serpent tail near the other line. There are detailed carvings of naked humans with a women holding two strands of flowers and vines appearing out of her feet. Swans and other birds surround the humans. The wide rear-sight appears to be made of iron alloy and a small boy appears to be crawling towards its direction on the stock. A spiral shaped piece is protruding at the back of the stock with straight marks drawn on it and a the image of a human is carved under it, sitting cross-legged. The slender trigger as a conical, ridged tip. There is a large steel clip around the bow and the string is made of hemp.
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Source
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Crossbow Top Measurements
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Length: 36 3/16 inches
Width: 22 3/4 inches
