Spring Rowel Spur
The neck of this spur is screwed to a bent strip that slides into a socket and holds it in place. When the neck is unscrewed it can slide out and can be removed when not used. Such a spur would have been used for occasional and casual riding.
This type of spur is described in the entry Eperon in the Swiss Encyclopédie d'Yverdon published in 1772 by Fortuné Barthélemy de Félice. He calls it a 'spring spur' (éperon à ressort). There, it is explained that the drawback of such spurs is that once the neck is separated from the heel plate, it is so small it is easy to loose. One of the other problems is you cannot move it to another pair of boots or shoes without asking a craftsman to remove the heel plates and to fix them back on another pair.
This type of spur is described in the entry Eperon in the Swiss Encyclopédie d'Yverdon published in 1772 by Fortuné Barthélemy de Félice. He calls it a 'spring spur' (éperon à ressort). There, it is explained that the drawback of such spurs is that once the neck is separated from the heel plate, it is so small it is easy to loose. One of the other problems is you cannot move it to another pair of boots or shoes without asking a craftsman to remove the heel plates and to fix them back on another pair.
Artwork Details
- Title: Spring Rowel Spur
- Date: 18th century
- Culture: German or French
- Medium: Copper alloy, gold, iron
- Dimensions: L. 3 in. (7.6 cm); W. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm); Diam. of rowel 3/4 in. (1.9 cm); Wt. 2.8 oz. (79.4 g)
- Classification: Equestrian Equipment-Spurs
- Credit Line: Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
- Object Number: 14.25.1711
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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Kolman Helmschmid
ca. 1525
probably German
ca. 1400–1430
South German
ca. 1500 and 19th century
German, probably Nuremberg
ca. 1500
German
15th century
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