1-233-733 - The Museum of East Asian Art/Heritage Images

Bronze crossbow trigger mechanism with gold inlays, Eastern Zhou dynasty, China, 4th-3rd century BC. A crossbow trigger mechanism inlaid with broad spirals on the upper surface of the plate within gold line borders. It seems to be complete, apart from a bolt to join the parts of the trigger together. The second bolt is in place. The inlaid decoration suggests that the trigger was part of a prestige piece rather than one for daily use, and was perhaps made for ceremonial purposes rather than for actual use. The Chinese invented the cross bow trigger mechanism in the 5th century BC.