Pair of Rowel Spurs
This pair of spurs is decorated overall with a gold damascened grotesque decoration featuring motifs of a kind of organic strapwork style called Schweifwerk. This style, popular in the German and Dutch-speaking lands, as we see for example on the ornament prints made by the Dutch artist Esaias van Hulsen, was also practiced by some other artists in Europe, particularly in France, including the designs made by the French Jacques Hurtu and Etienne Carteron.
In the first half of the 17th century, the fashion trend for gentlemen was to wear boots and spurs even non-riding circumstances, including for dancing or walking around at court. Spurs became then more than equestrian tools, but pieces of male jewelry often enriched by the same goldsmiths also working on armor and weapons. Their decoration was sometimes intended to match the sword hilt and the general outfit and horse tack of their owner. These trendy accessories were also a significant mark of status for gentlemen, sometimes nonetheless copied by the bourgeoisie. This fashion progressively disappeared after the mid 17th century.
In the first half of the 17th century, the fashion trend for gentlemen was to wear boots and spurs even non-riding circumstances, including for dancing or walking around at court. Spurs became then more than equestrian tools, but pieces of male jewelry often enriched by the same goldsmiths also working on armor and weapons. Their decoration was sometimes intended to match the sword hilt and the general outfit and horse tack of their owner. These trendy accessories were also a significant mark of status for gentlemen, sometimes nonetheless copied by the bourgeoisie. This fashion progressively disappeared after the mid 17th century.
Artwork Details
- Title: Pair of Rowel Spurs
- Date: ca. 1630–60
- Culture: possibly French or German
- Medium: Iron alloy, gold
- Dimensions: Spur (a); L. 6 in. (15.2 cm); W. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm); Diam. of rowel 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm); Wt. 4 oz. (10.2 g); spur (b); L. 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm); W. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); Diam. of rowel 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm); Wt. 4 oz. (10.2 g)
- Classification: Equestrian Equipment-Spurs
- Credit Line: Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
- Object Number: 14.25.1730a, b
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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