A guillotine consists of several key parts. The **lunette** is the crescent-shaped yoke that secures the victim's neck. This is mounted on a **bascule** (tilting plank) or **chevalet** (sliding stock). A heavy, angled **blade** slides down between two tall, grooved **uprights** or **montants**, which are topped by a **chapeau** (cap) and a release mechanism.
A guillotine primarily consists of a heavy, angled blade, a tall wooden frame, and a lunette. The blade, often triangular, slides down grooves in the uprights. The lunette is a crescent-shaped yoke that secures the victim's neck. A release mechanism, usually a rope and pulley system, holds the blade aloft until triggered, ensuring a swift and decisive drop. The entire structure is designed for efficiency and public display.
The lunette is a critical component of the guillotine, designed to firmly secure the condemned person's neck in place. It's a two-part, crescent-shaped wooden yoke. One half is fixed to the base, while the other is hinged or slides, allowing it to open and close. Once the victim's head is positioned, the movable half is closed and often locked, preventing any movement during the blade's descent. This ensures precise alignment for the execution.
The mouton, or 'ram,' refers to the heavy block of wood or metal to which the blade of the guillotine is attached. Its primary purpose is to add significant weight and momentum to the blade. This increased mass ensures a rapid, powerful, and clean cut as the blade descends. The mouton's weight is crucial for the guillotine's effectiveness, guaranteeing that the blade's impact is sufficient to sever the neck swiftly.
The bascule is a tilting plank or board found at the base of the guillotine. Its function is to position the condemned person correctly for execution. The individual would be strapped onto the bascule, which then pivots or tilts forward, sliding the person's head into the lunette. This mechanism ensures that the neck is precisely aligned beneath the blade, facilitating a quick and efficient execution. It's a key part of the setup process.
The blade of a guillotine was typically crafted from steel or iron, materials chosen for their strength, durability, and ability to hold a sharp edge. The blade was often triangular or trapezoidal in shape, with a sharpened, angled edge designed to maximize cutting efficiency. Its weight and material composition were crucial for ensuring a swift, clean decapitation, a primary goal of the device's design and operation throughout its history.
The blade of a guillotine was typically raised using a rope and pulley system. A rope would be attached to the mouton, which held the blade, and then threaded through pulleys mounted at the top of the upright posts. Workers would pull on the rope to hoist the heavy blade to its maximum height. Once elevated, a latch or pin would secure it in place, holding it aloft until the executioner released the mechanism, allowing it to drop.
The tall, vertical wooden structures that form the main framework of a guillotine are commonly referred to as the upright posts or montants. These posts provide the necessary height and stability for the entire apparatus. They feature grooves or channels along their inner surfaces, which guide the heavy blade and its attached mouton during its descent. The posts are fundamental to the structural integrity and operational mechanics of the guillotine.
The crossbar, often located at the top of the upright posts, serves a crucial structural and functional role in the guillotine. It connects and stabilizes the two vertical posts, preventing them from spreading apart under the weight and force of the dropping blade. Additionally, the crossbar typically houses the pulley system through which the rope passes to raise the blade, making it an integral part of the lifting mechanism and overall stability.
The guillotine's blade was released by a simple yet effective mechanism, typically involving a lever or a pull-cord. This release mechanism would disengage a latch or pin that held the heavy mouton and blade aloft at the top of the uprights. Once the latch was released, gravity would take over, causing the blade to plummet rapidly down the grooves in the posts. This design ensured a quick and decisive drop, central to the device's purpose.
While not always present, a basket or receptacle was sometimes placed at the base of the guillotine, directly beneath the lunette. Its grim purpose was to catch the severed head of the condemned person. This prevented the head from rolling away and allowed for its immediate display to the public, a common practice during executions. The basket served as a practical and symbolic component of the entire, macabre spectacle.