A German Sporting Crossbow Late 16th Century With steel bow struck with a mark on the inside and retained by its original cords also securing an iron ring for suspension, original string of twisted cord, swelling fruitwood tiller hollowed for the cheek (rear part replaced) and mounted along the top and bottom with border engraved staghorn panels decorated with incised designs of foliage (worn), the former with a panel of turtleshell at the rear, later folding brass back-sight, staghorn nut and horn bolt-retainer (incomplete), curved steel trigger-guard with swivelling safety-catch, folding trigger set by a rod via a hole in the stock, and steel lugs for a cranequin (2) 73 cm. long Footnotes: Offered with a facsimile of a typed letter dated 30 January 1985, signed by Helmut Nickel of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, describing the crossbow and giving the names and contact details of Charles Addams and Dr. Jerome Zwanger 'in the case you want to sell your crossbow' Cf. a related crossbow sold in these Rooms, Antique Arms, Armour & Modern Sporting Guns, 17 May 2017, lot 150 This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing