-
Title
-
"The Duke of Alba," Ivory-Plated Crossbow, 1568
-
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
-
Received as a gift in 1568. Exact date of manufacture not specified.
-
Location
-
Continental Europe
-
Description
-
This crossbow’s prod is made of steel. The prod has three red pompoms attached to the prod with string. The string for a fourth red pompom is present, but the fourth pompom itself is missing. The prod connects to the stock with bow irons. On the tip of the stock, there is a metal bolt rest. The stock is made of wood mostly covered with ivory overlay.
The nut is made of bone.
The lever trigger has a decorative twist in the middle and a knob on the end. The presence of the decorative twist in the metal suggests it is made of wrought iron.
This crossbow would be spanned with a cranequin.
The ivory plates on the stock are carved with decorative images. On the right side of the stock, there is the image of a lady holding a basket and a flower. The rest of that side is carved with vines and an owl. On the left side of the stock, there is a man holding a dead bird by the neck. The rest of that side is carved with vines, a serpent or dragon facing off against a hunting dog, a large bird, a small bird, and an animal which could be a rabbit or small dog. On the top and the bottom of the stock, the images are much more faint. They seem to depict vines and leaves.
The ivory plates are damaged by multiple cracks. In some places, the cracked ivory is affixed to the stock with nails.
It is notable that the bow irons are likely a later addition, since they obscure the head of the man and the head of the lady on the sides of the stock.
It is worth noting that dragons are associated with St. George, the patron of the Old Crossbowmen of Visé. This is a possible reason why there is a dragon carved into the stock of this crossbow.
This luxury weapon was a gift from the Duke of Alba to the Royal Company of the Old Crossbowmen of Visé. It was given during a diplomatic meeting between the Duke and the Prince-Bishop of Liège, Gerard de Groesbeeck, in Visé in the year 1568.
During this event, the Old Crossbowmen held a shooting event in honor of their visitors. In recognition, the Duke gave them this crossbow, which they named the “Duc d’Albe” [in English: Duke of Alba] in his honor.
-
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: 60 cm
Width (length of prod): 50 cm
Weight: 3.2 kg
