AN EXTREMELY RARE, LATE 16TH CENTURY, GERMAN SHEET STEEL COVERED CROSSBOW, ACID ETCHED THROUGHOUT, ATTRIBUTED TO ULRICH KRELL, WITH CRANEQUIN, EX. LATTIMER.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/12/2023

Crossbow of half size (halbe Rustung) measures approximately 27 - 3/4" across the prod and 24" from stirrup to rear. Wooden stock is covered with complete coverage of sheets of steel nailed in place, with boltway made of bone, decorated with a pair of bearded faces at tip and accenting scroll. 4 axle nut lock with set trigger. Nut appears to be original bone and bound by cord. Safety cord with pom-poms present across front of prod and period cord binding; form of the prod indicates period replacement by a skilled craftsman. Bolt rest not present, but brackets still present. Tiller is acid etched throughout with geometrics and floral scroll, and vignettes on left and right, left depicting a hunter engaging a charging boar, right side depicting what appears to be a harvest festival with matched couples celebrating. Slots along lock area for bolt clip and rear sight, both missing. Associated cranequin of South German form with a closed stepped case, dated above the grapple (looks to be 1491, possibly 1641 or 1614 which would coincide with form), with the wheel case acid etched en suite with the crossbow, depicting a shepherd with a crook and club on one side, and what appears to be a soldier with a polearm on the other, with underside depicting a winged animal of some kind; acid etching is soft and details are difficult to make out. Comparable crannequins date to the second half of the 16th/first half of the 17th century; given this, a 1641/1614 reading of the date may be most appropriate. There are only 3 comparable crossbows, 2 at Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Inventory Numbers U115 and U267, and 1 at Deutsches Historiches Museum Berlin, Inventory Number W1130. W1130 and 115 are particularly similar; of particular note is that U115 is dated 1579 and listed in an inventory at Dresden in 1580 as the work of Ulrich Krell, a crossbowmaker for the Count and an active marksman, competing in the 1582 Dresden shoot, allowing for a comfortable attribution. Crossbows with sheet steel and acid etching like this are extraordinarily scarce and may be your only opportunity for many years. CONDITION: Metal is gunmetal grey throughout with some softening to etching from age, and spotted areas of patination and staining. A few pins replaced with modern iterations. Some delamination in metal from age. Bone is very good with some age related darkening and age related striations. Cord and cloth with age related distress and fraying, with a break across the stirrup. Crannequin is in commensurate condition throughout and operates correctly. PROVENANCE: Former Dr. John K. Lattimer collection.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Ulrich Krell was a crossbowmaker for the Saxonian elector.