A German Sporting Crossbow And Cranequin
Circa 1600
With robust steel bow painted dark green within red borders, secured by its original gold-painted cords and retaining its original string of twisted cords and green woollen pom-poms (two missing from the front), wooden tiller swelling towards the middle, slightly hollowed at the cheek-piece, and veneered with white staghorn engraved with designs of foliage along the top, the bottom inlaid with white staghorn panels engraved with foliage and a grotesque mask, the latter's mouth forming the aperture for the set-trigger rod, horn nut, dark horn bolt-clip, folding adjustable iron back-sight, iron cranequin lugs, slightly curved iron lever trigger with remains of cord binding for pom-poms (missing), swiveling safety-catch, brass band in front of the lever, set trigger, iron ring for suspension, and white horn butt-plate engraved 'B' above 'I.G.H.', the iron cranequin with large circular gear-box struck with maker's mark, a standing figure in a shield, initials 'TH' above (Neue Støckel 4583), and engraved with a letter 'B', original cord loop, ratchet bar (hook removed) with hook, and tapering winding arm of diamond section with lightly carved turned crank handle of wood and bone (2)
72.5 cm. long