Rowel Spur

Unknown

second half 16th century · Iron alloy · Arms and Armor

This heavy spur is part of a group of frequently oversized and lavishly decorated German spurs made in the second half of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century, probably in Saxony. Some of them display extravagant features like multiple rowels (up to 12 in some cases) and are often decorated with these characteristic cross-hatched motifs. The impracticality of many of these spurs indicate that they were probably only used during parade and festive events, as a display of wealth and status.

Artist

Unknown

Date

second half 16th century

Medium

Iron alloy

Culture

German, possibly Saxony

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Gift of Bashford Dean, 1923