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| RARE CHEVAL DE FRISE |
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Occasionally one buys something not knowing why, but it speaks to you, many will still say why !.
The invention of the cheval de frise is attributed to ancient China in the 4th Century The use of chevaux de frise spread to Europe during the Middle Ages and became a common feature of medieval fortifications. They were used extensively in castle defenses and military campaigns, particularly during the Renaissance and early modern periods.
The term was also applied to underwater constructions used to prevent the passage of ships or other vessels on rivers. Notably during the American Revolutionary War both Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Robert Erskine designed an anti-ship version of the cheval-de-frise to prevent British warships from proceeding up the Delaware River and Hudson River, respectively. A cheval de frise by Erskine's design was placed between Fort Washington at northern Manhattan and Fort Lee in New Jersey in 1776. The following year construction began on one to the north of West Point at Pollepel Island, but it was overshadowed by the completion of the Great Chain across the Hudson in 1778, which was used through 1782. One of these almost identical to our example has been found and recently installed at the Delaware Museum.
By 1840/50 they had became obsolete with the advent of Iron hulls on shipping. |
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