Pair of Rowel Spurs thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Pair of Rowel Spurs

16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

At a time when people travelled long distances on horseback, spurs were an important and necessary accessory. They were designed to fit round the heel of a boot and were held by a strap and buckle which passed over the foot. The manufacture of spurs was a specialist craft, the makers being known as 'spurriers'.

This type, with revolving spiked wheels that pressed into the flanks of the horse, was known as a rowel spur. It was first developed in the late Middle Ages. Some rowel spurs are elaborate showpieces with more than a dozen revolving spiked wheels.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Rowel Spur
  • Rowel Spur
Materials and techniques
Iron, forged, chiselled and gilt, encrusted with silver
Brief description
Iron decorated with silver and gold, Italy, 16th century
Physical description
Pair of rowel spurs, iron, chiselled and partly gilt and encrusted with silver, with a rowel of 5 points, right angles neck and curved shanks, scroll buckles, decorated with leaf ornament and panels in which are reclining figures of justice
Dimensions
  • Length: 12.4cm
  • Width: 8.3cm
Style
Credit line
Bequeathed by D. M. Currie
Summary
At a time when people travelled long distances on horseback, spurs were an important and necessary accessory. They were designed to fit round the heel of a boot and were held by a strap and buckle which passed over the foot. The manufacture of spurs was a specialist craft, the makers being known as 'spurriers'.

This type, with revolving spiked wheels that pressed into the flanks of the horse, was known as a rowel spur. It was first developed in the late Middle Ages. Some rowel spurs are elaborate showpieces with more than a dozen revolving spiked wheels.
Bibliographic references
  • Charles de Lacy, The History of the Spur , The Connoisseur, 1911
  • Charles Chenevix Trench, A History of Horsemanship, Longman, 1970
Collection
Accession number
M.187&A-1921

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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