The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of October 11, 2026

A crossbow bolt features a dark, striated wood shaft oriented horizontally. At the right end, a faceted steel head tapers to a sharp point. On the left, a light-brown leather fin is mounted near the blunt tail, its thin form arching above and below the wood. The transition between the dark timber and the gray metal tip is seamless, emphasizing the tool's sturdy, functional construction.

Crossbow Bolt

1500s-1600s

Germany

wood, leather, steel
Average: 37.2 cm (14 5/8 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1768
Location: Not on view
  • Thill Collection; Frank Gair Macomber; Boston; cat.# 528.
  • Gilchrist, Helen Ives. A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924. Mentioned: p. 174, G4 archive.org
  • {{cite web|title=Crossbow Bolt|url=false|author=|year=1500s-1600s|access-date=11 October 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1768