Crossbow
Category
Arms and armour
Date
circa 1730 - circa 1740
Materials
iron, steel, wood, bone
Measurements
760 mm (Length); 451 mm (Length)
Place of origin
Germany
Order this imageCollection
Tatton Park, Cheshire
NT 1297714
Summary
Sporting crossbow, German, early 18th century.
Full description
German sporting crossbow, early 18th century. Slender curved steel bow (76cm) with original composite bow string. Walnut tiller or stock, of gun-stock form, with a grooved bolt channel on the top front section, and containing the bolt release mechanism. The butt profusely carved with Rococo designs and foliage, and inlaid with engraved bone plaques including. The left side of the butt formed with a cheek-piece inlaid with the figure of a native hunter. The right side of the butt with a “patch-box”, with sliding cover; the cover carved and inlaid with an engraved bone plaque. Large iron trigger guard of gun type, formed with a finger rest and decorative finials. Horn butt plate. Set or hair triggers with adjusting screw. Iron loop at fore-end and decorative iron plates where the bow passes through the stock. Overall length: 85.3cm Complete with an original bolt with steel tip (45cm length).
Provenance
Egerton collection devised to the National Trust in 1960 by Maurice, 4th Baron Egerton of Tatton (1874-1958)
References
Payne-Gallwey,. Sir, Ralph. The crossbow 1903.