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Title
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Flemish Sporting Crossbow, End of the 19th Century
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HCA Identifier
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Inventory number: A92
Urban idenitfying number: 88673
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Collection Location
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Brussels, Belgium
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Date
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end of the 19th century
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Location
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Vilvoorde, Belgium and Bruges, Belgium
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Description
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At the tip of the crossbow, there is a large, roughly triangular stirrup. The stock is wooden. The prod is metal, likely steel. It connects to the prod with bow irons.
On the bottom side of the stock, there protrudes a large wooden support, likely intended to stabilize the crossbow for the user to fire it while lying on their belly.
The catch and trigger systems are not easily visible in the photo provided.
There is a sight on the top side of the crossbow, likely brass. The trigger is protected with a trigger guard, also likely brass. The end of the stock tapers into a small knob.
In style, the crossbow is quite plain, with one notable exception. There is a brass plaque with an engraved tree branch and the words “De edelevoetboog, Keizerlijk Gilde, St Joris.” This refers to the Imperial Guild of St. Joris, a Flemish crossbow guild whose patron saint was St. George. Accordingly, near the brass plaque, there is a coat of arms with the red cross of St. George.
The Inventory of Movable Heritage of Brussels notes that this crossbow belonged to Ernest Kockart.
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Source
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Grand Serment Royal et de Saint-Georges des Arbalétriers de Bruxelles [Great Royal Oath of St. George of the Crossbowmen of Brussels]
Inventaire du patrimoine mobilier de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale [Inventory of Movable Heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region]
