Late Gothic Crossbows and Accouterments

Matchlock · 25th February 2012, 05:44 PM

I was told that this one was preserved in The Royal Armouries Leeds but it was not on display when I was there, nor was is exhibited in The Tower of London.

Does anybody have a clue - Micke?

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 25th February 2012, 06:58 PM

I just found out it actually is in Leeds. Here is more of it.

In our opinion, this item should be definitely dated about a quarter of a century earlier than the RA believe it is.

m

Micke D · 27th February 2012, 06:49 AM

I think that this one could be from 1480-1490 or something like that, based on the strange and probably early four-axle lock mechanism.

I have written a little article explaining my thoughts about how this one is related to two other 15th c crossbows.

This one wasn't displayed when I was at Leeds either, but the floor with the hunting stuff was closed for rebuilding/rearranging or something like that.

I don't know if it has been displayed in modern times at all? I guess there would be more photos of it if it has been shown.

Matchlock · 27th February 2012, 02:42 PM

Where was that article of yours published? Could you share it with us?

m

Matchlock · 28th February 2012, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micke D

I think that this one could be from 1480-1490 or something like that, based on the strange and probably early four-axle lock mechanism.

I have written a little article explaining my thoughts about how this one is related to two other 15th c crossbows.

This one wasn't displayed when I was at Leeds either, but the floor with the hunting stuff was closed for rebuilding/rearranging or something like that.

I don't know if it has been displayed in modern times at all? I guess there would be more photos of it if it has been shown.

I found a different view.

m

Matchlock · 29th February 2012, 05:12 PM

This item is labeled as 16th century but I think it should rather be assigned to the 17th c. and was designed for hunting purposes.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 11th March 2012, 03:52 PM

Please note the excellent and complete overall condition, the way that the numeral 7 is struck within Gothic trefoil ornament, the punched decoration which is stylistically characteristic of the period around 1540, the brass- or gold-inlaid maker's mark, an arrow and two pellets, and the leather covered cord loop.
It was hammered down at 6,500 Swiss Francs at Fischer, Lucerne, in September 2010.

This Nuremberg workshop arrow mark is also found on the barrels of matchlock Landsknecht arquebuses preserved in the Bayerisches Armeemuseum Ingolstadt, together with the same date 1537; this group of arquebuses was restocked in 1619 (two images attached).

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 15th March 2012, 12:22 PM

From top to bottom:

- Spain or Portugal, Romanic, 12th. c.

- Line drawing of an early Gothic German crossbow, 13th c., by Egon Harmuth

- Another, of a Late Gothic German crossbow, 15th c., and of a Renaissance type of 1the 16th c., by the same author

- ca. 1230, from the Maciejowski (or Morgan) Bible, 4 scans

- ca. 1326/7, from the famous de Milemete or Christ Church ms, Oxford

- ca. 1350-55, illustrations of a crossbow and a quiver, Haguenau, France

- ca. 1230, a very rare illustration of a trap war crossbow, by Villard de Honnecourt, ms. fr. 19093, Bibliothèque Nationale Paris

For more on trap crossbows please see

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15016

More to come.

m

Matchlock · 8th June 2012, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micke D

I think that this one could be from 1480-1490 or something like that, based on the strange and probably early four-axle lock mechanism.

I have written a little article explaining my thoughts about how this one is related to two other 15th c crossbows.

Hi Micke,

Please forgive my stupidity, and my not asking earlier:

Would you please be so kind and post that article of yours?

It concerns a crossbow in the Royal Armouries Leeds, posts #88 and #89.

Thanks in advance,
and eagerly looking forward to some good reading,

Michael

25th February 2012, 05:44 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	One of the Finest Late Gothic Crossbows in Existence, ca. 1480 I was told that this one was preserved in The Royal Armouries Leeds but it was not on display when I was there, nor was is exhibited in The Tower of London. Does anybody have a clue - Micke? Best, Michael Attached Images

25th February 2012, 06:58 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	I just found out it actually is in Leeds. Here is more of it. In our opinion, this item should be definitely dated about a quarter of a century earlier than the RA believe it is. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 26th February 2012 at 06:23 PM.

27th February 2012, 06:49 AM	#3
Micke D Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 41	I think that this one could be from 1480-1490 or something like that, based on the strange and probably early four-axle lock mechanism. I have written a little article explaining my thoughts about how this one is related to two other 15th c crossbows. This one wasn't displayed when I was at Leeds either, but the floor with the hunting stuff was closed for rebuilding/rearranging or something like that. I don't know if it has been displayed in modern times at all? I guess there would be more photos of it if it has been shown. Last edited by Micke D; 27th February 2012 at 09:20 AM.

29th February 2012, 05:12 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Leather Quiver, Swiss Country Museum Zürich This item is labeled as 16th century but I think it should rather be assigned to the 17th c. and was designed for hunting purposes. Best, Michael Attached Images

11th March 2012, 03:52 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Fine Nuremberg Cranequin Dated 1537 Please note the excellent and complete overall condition, the way that the numeral 7 is struck within Gothic trefoil ornament, the punched decoration which is stylistically characteristic of the period around 1540, the brass- or gold-inlaid maker's mark, an arrow and two pellets, and the leather covered cord loop. It was hammered down at 6,500 Swiss Francs at Fischer, Lucerne, in September 2010. This Nuremberg workshop arrow mark is also found on the barrels of matchlock Landsknecht arquebuses preserved in the Bayerisches Armeemuseum Ingolstadt, together with the same date 1537; this group of arquebuses was restocked in 1619 (two images attached). Best, Michael Attached Images

27th February 2012, 02:42 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Where was that article of yours published? Could you share it with us? m

15th March 2012, 12:22 PM	#8
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Romanic and Early to High Gothic Bows and Crossbows in Period Artwork From top to bottom: - Spain or Portugal, Romanic, 12th. c. - Line drawing of an early Gothic German crossbow, 13th c., by Egon Harmuth - Another, of a Late Gothic German crossbow, 15th c., and of a Renaissance type of 1the 16th c., by the same author - ca. 1230, from the Maciejowski (or Morgan) Bible, 4 scans - ca. 1326/7, from the famous de Milemete or Christ Church ms, Oxford - ca. 1350-55, illustrations of a crossbow and a quiver, Haguenau, France - ca. 1230, a very rare illustration of a trap war crossbow, by Villard de Honnecourt, ms. fr. 19093, Bibliothèque Nationale Paris For more on trap crossbows please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15016 More to come. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 15th March 2012 at 12:55 PM.