The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2024

Cranequin

Cranequin

c. 1480–1500
Rack: 39.4 cm (15 1/2 in.); Crank: 30.2 cm (11 7/8 in.); Gear housing: 12.1 cm (4 3/4 in.)

Did You Know?

The mark, made of inlaid copper, is currently unidentified.

Description

Bows made of composite materials were developed during the 1400s. They were immensely powerful and could be spanned only with the aid of a winder called a cranequin like the one seen here.
  • Franz Thille, Vienna, Austria
    ?-1916
    Frank Gair Macomber (1849-1941), Boston, MA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1916-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Catalogue of an Exhibition of Arms and Armor: [Exhibition] Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Summer, 1899. Boston: The Museum, 1899. Cat. No. 509
    Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998. p. 133, 173, no. 205
    Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. cat. no. 209, p. 193
  • Armor Court Reinstallation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).
  • {{cite web|title=Cranequin|url=false|author=|year=c. 1480–1500|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.2082