-
Title
-
"La Marguerite" Crossbow, 16th Century
-
Collection Location
-
Museum of the Company of Old Crossbowmen of Visé (Musée de la Compagnie des Anciens Arbalétriers Visétois), Rue Haute 46, 4600 Visé, Belgium
-
Date
-
Tradition states that this crossbow was made in 1538
-
Location
-
Continental Europe
-
Description
-
This crossbow was used to hunt big game. Its powerful metal prod is decorated with four pompoms. Bow irons secure the prod to the fruitwood stock. The stock has bone inlay. The top of the stock is completely covered by that bone plating. The nut is made of wood. Behind the nut, the initials “HB” are engraved into the bone inlay along with a little decoration. Beside the nut, there is an old repair, evidenced by a steel plate.
On the sides of the stock, bone inlay partially reveals the fruitwood beneath. The bone inlay forms floral motifs. It also depicts a crocodile-like animal and an indiscernible creature with a man’s face.
There is an iron lever trigger which ends in a decorative curl.
This crossbow was given as a gift from Marguerite de Valois to the Royal Company of Old Crossbowmen of Visé in 1576. Tradition states that the crossbow originated in 1538.
-
Source
-
Information and images courtesy of the Museum of the Royal Company of Old Crossbowmen of Visé (Musée de la Compagnie Royale des Anciens Arbalétriers Visétois), through their publication "Saint Georges & l'arbalète," or "Saint George & the Crossbow."
-
Crossbow Top Measurements
-
Length of stock: 59 cm
Width (length of prod): 63.5 cm
4.2 kg
