Harquebuses gallery in Viana Palace, Cordoba (Spain)

Harquebuses Gallery

        On the left next to Tobias Lounge, a door opens and it is fixed by bronze supports and leads to a gallery with rectangular shape, the Harquebuses Gallery, which receives the name because of the twenty-four arcabuces that htere are there. On a little boardHarquebuses Gallery there is : Fire weapons made by the harquebuses in Madrid with its marks.
        The harquebus was an ancient weapon, previous to the nowadays weapon. Its use was extended during the European Infantery in the century XV and XVII. Despite its length the shot was short, but, lethal, it could parfores the armour at very short istance, so its use was generalized. With an easy use, it could substitute the crossbow with its multiple advantages.
        The harquebus was made with an iron pipe put on a wooden board with an meter long, the pipe has a hole in the upper part through which a switched on fuse and fired by a trigger.
        The most ancient piece is dated 1686, and the most modern in 1861 but the most modern belong to the XVIII Century. Nowadays it is considered one of the most important private collection of our country. It is important to remember the one made by E. Zuloaga in 1861, with a delicate work made with a chisel, and ataujía work. Its focus is curious because it has a diamond framed into little diamonds, except the one made in gold.
        In the lower part of the showwindow there are exceptional weapons, in the upper part there are the personal defence weapons. The collection is completed by different horns that were used to refill the arcabuces with gun powder, and there is also a mountain knife with the grasp made in ivory.

Text: J.A.S.C.

Traslated by Sara Moretti