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Title
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16th Century Spanish Crossbow
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HCA Identifier
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A1035
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Collection Location
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Collection The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
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Location
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c. 1550
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Description
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"Crossbow, the steel bow secured to the stock by a bridle of twisted cord. It is stamped four times with the maker's mark and inscribed:
D O M F E R N A N D O | R E I D E R O M A N O S
On the inner side the mark again appears four times together with the inscription:
I V A D E | N C I N A S
The cord remains.
Straight, slender stock or tiller of dark walnut, rectangular in section reinforced with steel plates at the passage for the bow and alongside the lock. The groove for the bolt is inlaid with antler, the nut of the same material. In front of the nut the Imperial eagle is inlaid in steel, while behind it is a simplified shield ensigned with the Imperial bonnet and charged with a double eagle and the Golden Fleece depending below. Steel transverse lugs for a goat's-foot lever.
Long trigger lever of square section, the base overlaid in gold with arabesque foliage, and on the underside with the signature:
I V A N D E N S I N A S
At the tip are traces of further gold overlaid, the right side appearing to have borne an inscription now illegible, the left a form of key pattern. To the underside of the stock is hinged a small lever, which, when unfolded, rests on the inner surface of the trigger lever like a strut, thus preventing any movement of the latter and forming a safety-catch."
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Source
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Collection The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
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Crossbow Top Measurements
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Length: 87 cm
Span: 50.1 cm
Weight: 2.73 kg
