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Crossbow

ca. 1425–75
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 373
The slender and elongated stock, or tiller, and the long release lever indicate that this crossbow dates from around the middle of the fifteenth century. It belongs to a group of weapons distinguished by inlaid panels decorated with flamelike extensions and probably all made in the region of present-day Austria.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Crossbow
  • Date: ca. 1425–75
  • Culture: Central European, possibly Austria
  • Medium: Wood (European hornbeam), horn, animal sinew, animal glue, birch bark, staghorn, iron alloy, hemp, leather
  • Dimensions: L. 37 5/8 in. (95.6 cm); W. 29 3/4 in. (75.5 cm); Wt. 8 lb. 12 oz. (3989 g)
  • Classification: Archery Equipment-Crossbows
  • Credit Line: Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Funds from various donors, 1929
  • Object Number: 29.158.647
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
Saddle, Bovine bone (body of saddle), deer antler and bone (decorative elements), limewood, rawhide, birchbark, and metal paint, Central European
Saddle
Central European
ca. 1400–1420
Crossbow of Count Ulrich V of Württemberg (1413–1480), Heinrich Heid von Winterthur probably Swiss, Wood (European hornbeam), horn, animal sinew, staghorn, birch bark, iron alloy, copper alloy, pigment, German, probably Stuttgart
Crossbow of Count Ulrich V of Württemberg (1413–1480)
Attributed to Heinrich Heid von Winterthur
dated 1460
Rowel Spur, Copper alloy, enamel, gold, French or Spanish, Catalonia
Rowel Spur
French or Spanish, Catalonia
ca. 1400
Folding Comb, Boxwood, Central European
Folding Comb
Central European
ca. 1500
Crossbow, Cranequin and Six Crossbow Bolts, Steel, wood (probably cherry, and possibly service tree), ivory (probably elephant), horn, mother-of-pearl, iron alloy, copper alloy, hemp, southern German or Tyrolese; cranequin probably German or Swiss
Crossbow, Cranequin and Six Crossbow Bolts
southern German or Tyrolese; cranequin probably German or Swiss
crossbow ca. 1600–1650; cranequin dated 1556

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