Well this bow has kept me busy for a while mainly due to the ridiculous nature of the decoration. I saw a mid 16th bow a few years ago and have wanted to make a reproduction of something similar, so when a customer came to me looking for a special bow that came to mind.
The bow is a 450lb steel prod hunting bow using the style predominant through the 15thC in central Europe. During the 16thC this style got bulkier and started to integrate more of a modern butt to the stock. The bow itself has been linen covered and painted with a decoration from a Bavarian bow from the Wallace. The bow has been lashed on with dyed hemp cord and covered with a woven leather element. The hanging ring and trigger have been oil blacked.
The bow itself has been covered with around 6,000 3m x3mm bone and horn squares, with bone and horn inset plates for the cheeks and the deck etc. This solid covering of high density material makes the bow noticeably heavier than wooden versions.
Both the customer and I wanted make an open cranequin, more redolent of 16thC examples, but starting at around this time so I made the first of these that I have done. Making it open makes for a more decorative piece and also makes it lighter.
Hunting bows very often had pom poms set around them, so again I have done this here.
I hope you like the overall effect - hate it or love it, you will notice it! And that is what being rich in medieval times was all about.
Tod
Attachment: 57.86 KB
Attachment: 158.34 KB
Attachment: 140.32 KB
Attachment: 112.34 KB
Attachment: 144.85 KB
Attachment: 129.4 KB
Attachment: 104.58 KB
Attachment: 151.43 KB
