Anchor Plate from a Rope-and-Pulley System to Span a Crossbow
Unknown Artist
ca. 1475–1525
Medium
Steel, copper alloy
Dimensions
L. 7 in. (17.7 cm); W. 3 in. (7.7 cm); Wt. 8 oz. (224 g)
Classification
Archery Equipment
Culture
European, possibly British
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number
14.25.1611
Art Historical Context
This unassuming yet ingenious anchor plate, dating to around 1475–1525, formed a crucial part of a rope-and-pulley system to span—or cock—a powerful crossbow. In late medieval Europe, possibly Britain, crossbows were fearsome battlefield weapons, prized for their penetrating power against armored knights. Spanning the heavy prod (bow) required immense strength, so devices like this multiplied the user's leverage, allowing even moderately skilled soldiers to ready shots quickly during the turbulent Wars of the Roses or early Tudor conflicts. Crafted from durable steel with copper alloy accents...