Collectors item
The Dutch Army Museum publishes its complete collection of crossbows and accessories in a fullcolour illustrated catalogue in three languages (English, Dutch and German), written by Jens Sensfelder, specialist in crossbows.
A brief description of the history of the development of crossbows will be followed by a catalogue section presenting the individual objects in a fixed format. Next, a comparison is made with information available from the literature and, finally, the object is related to other international collections, both chronologically and technically. Comparing the documented crossbows with other, similar weapons and considering the entire setting makes an exhaustive discussion of the subject as a whole possible.
The list of makers and marks will be of particular interest to collectors and museum experts. The accumulation of this information enables an enhanced chronological and regional classification, while the marks also provide information on the craftsmen in question.
The crossbow collection of the Dutch Army Museum will be exhibited from Oktober 12, 2007 till March 15, 2008. The 40 crossbows show an excellent overview of this type of weapon from different European areas from 1400 till now.
