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Linstock
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This specialized staff weapon was used primarily to ignite the charge in pieces of artillery. The two lateral projections ending in eagles' heads are actually clips designed to hold the smoldering matches that allowed the firer to stand a little further from the cannon. The short, leaf-shaped blade allowed the linstock to be used as a weapon if necessary.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineLinstock, c. 1600–25. France, 17th century. Steel; octagonal wood haft covered with green velvet, brass studs; overall: 201 cm (79 1/8 in.); blade: 25.2 cm (9 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance, 1916.1786
