The obtusely pointed oval head is reinforced by a heavy mid-ridge, and almost entirely covered with etched decoration of foliate strapwork. A rivet at the bottom of the socket serves for attaching the toggle, carved from staghorn and tied on with leather straps. The strong wooden shaft is deeply grooved and crosscut, which creates a surface of short lobes for about two-thirds of its length.
These spears were specially designed for the hunt of board and bear. The short but wide double-edged blade would inflict a heavily bleeding wound that would quickly disable the animal; the toggle would stop the on-rushing board from impaling himself too deeply and would keep the huntsman at a reasonably safe distance from the slashing tusks. The heavily lobed surface of the shaft allowed the huntsman a firm grip, even if the wood were slippery with rain, dew, or blood. Sometimes ash saplings were selected, and while still alive their bark was nicked repeatedly in order to grow scar tissue to create the desired knobby surface (gebickte Schäfte).
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.
Detail, side a
Detail, side b
Artwork Details
Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item
Title:Boar Spear
Date:16th century
Culture:German
Medium:Steel, wood, bone
Dimensions:L. 93 5/8 in. (237.8 cm); L. of head 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm); W. 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm); Wt. 6 lbs. 0.8 oz. (2744.2 g)
Classification:Shafted Weapons
Credit Line:Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number:14.25.455
William H. Riggs, Paris (until 1913; his gift to MMA).
Los Angeles. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. "Loan Exhibition of Mediaeval and Renaissance Arms and Armor from the Metropolitan Museum of Art," January 15–March 18, 1953, no. 66.
San Francisco. California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. "Loan Exhibition of Mediaeval and Renaissance Arms and Armor from the Metropolitan Museum of Art," April 18–June 7, 1953, no. 66.
Pittsburgh. Department of Fine Arts, Carnegie Institute. "Loan Exhibition of Mediaeval and Renaissance Arms and Armor from the Metropolitan Museum of Art," October 1953–April 1954, no. 66.
Seattle, Wash. Seattle Art Museum. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," March 11, 1982–June 6, 1982, no. 72.
Denver, Colo. Denver Art Museum. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," July 18–October 10, 1982, no. 72.
San Antonio, Tex. Witte Museum of the San Antonio Museum Association. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," November 13, 1982–February 5, 1983, no. 72.
Minneapolis, Minn. Minneapolis Institute of Arts. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," May 24–July 31, 1983, no. 72.
San Francisco. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," November 5, 1983–January 28, 1984, no. 72.
Detroit, Mich. Detroit Institute of Arts. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," April 4–June 17, 1984, no. 72.
Galerie Hugo Helbing. Kriegs- und Jagdwaffen des XIII. - XVIII. Jahrhunderts, aus englischem Besitz. Munich: Galerie Hugo Helbing, Munich, November 10, 1908. p. 20, no. 299, ill., pl. 13 (this boar-spear).
Grancsay, Stephen V. Loan Exhibition of Mediaeval and Renaissance Arms and Armor from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1953. p. 21, no. 66.
Nickel, Helmut. Warriors and Worthies: Arms and Armor Through the Ages. New York: Atheneum, 1969. p. 82, ill.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Helmut Nickel, Stuart W. Pyhrr, Leonid Tarassuk, and American Federation of Arts. The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: An Exhibition. New York: The Federation, 1982. p. 116, 118, no. 72, ill.
The Met's Libraries and Research Centers provide unparalleled resources for research and welcome an international community of students and scholars.
The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can connect to the most up-to-date data and public domain images for The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.