Cranequin from the Armory of Emperor Maximilan I (reigned 1493/1508–19)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Cranequin from the Armory of Emperor Maximilan I, by an unknown artist. The object is a metal device with a long, thin handle that curves upward and has a wooden grip at the top. The handle is attached to a metal piece with a twisted rope-like design. The device has two long, thin arms that extend from the center, one with a series of holes along its length. The arms are connected by a metal piece with a gold-colored detail. The device has a metal piece with two curved parts at the end, resembling a claw. The background of the image is a gradient of gray, transitioning from light to dark.