1250) EXCEPTIONALLY DECORATED GERMAN RENAISSANCE CROSSBOW CIRCA 1560 WITH ORIGINAL CRANIKIN WITH QUIVER AND BOLTS: This highly decorated mint crossbow with original signed cranikin and associated quiver evokes the best of Renaissance mannerist decoration. A very similar crossbow with the same cow bone bow locking design wrapped in cord can be found in a crossbow made in 1563 for Carlo II (1540-1590).

Discussion: The crossbow has been in service to mankind for almost 2,500 years. It originated in China and soon made its way to medieval Europe either via trade or parallel development. The crossbow was used for warfare and hunting and only surpassed by the firearm. From the 12th to the 15th century crossbows were a prized weapon of war. Armories throughout Europe had a multitude of them for defense. Many individual citizen soldiers that were required to participate in the defense of their town or city armed themselves with this state of the art weapon which required very little formal training. Crossbows also presented a big problem to the armored knight. A well placed bolt shot by the most inexperienced crossbowman could penetrate armor. The crossbows effectiveness did not go unnoticed. The second Lateran Council under Pope Innocent II (d.1143) issued a canon (decree) which has been arguably interpreted to infer that the church had outlawed the use of the crossbow among Christians. It could only be used on non Christians. This also included the bow and arrow archer to a certain degree. The advantage the crossbow had over the bow and arrow are several.
• The crossbow did not require years to attain a high level of expertise.
• The crossbow bolt was also a more powerful projectile.
• Even though the crossbow did not require great strength since the crossbow was spanned with a cranikin which like a car jack (used to raise and exchange a car tire) requires very little strength.
• Better aim can be taken with a crossbow, especially if rested on something like a castle wall.
• Crossbows can be fired much easier on horseback.
• The bow and arrow required more room to operate.
• There are many variants of large crossbows for siege warfare both offense and defense that would be impossible to employ with bow and arrow technology because of the massive spanning required.

Conclusion: An exceptionally elegant crossbow in superb condition. This piece of European history is priced to sell to the most discriminating collector or museum.

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