Boar Spear
ca. 1580 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This spear is more a display piece than a funtional weapon. Its elaborate decoration gives an indication of the importance of hunting to the 16th century nobility.
Boar hunting remained a popular pastime in much of Europe for centuries. The last part of the hunt usually involved approaching the cornered boar on foot through dense undergrowth. Boar-hunting was regarded as an extreme test of courage and skill. More functional boar spears had cross-bars behind the blade which kept the hunter beyond the reach of sharp tusks by preventing the spear penetrating too deeply.
Decorative spears like this were deemed worthy of a place in a rustkammer (armoury) alongside ceremonial halberds and pikes.
Boar hunting remained a popular pastime in much of Europe for centuries. The last part of the hunt usually involved approaching the cornered boar on foot through dense undergrowth. Boar-hunting was regarded as an extreme test of courage and skill. More functional boar spears had cross-bars behind the blade which kept the hunter beyond the reach of sharp tusks by preventing the spear penetrating too deeply.
Decorative spears like this were deemed worthy of a place in a rustkammer (armoury) alongside ceremonial halberds and pikes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Etched steel blade, carbed wooden shaft |
| Brief description | Boar spear with long wooden shaft carved with overlapping leaf pattern, the section near the blade covered in green cloth fixed with brass studs, the blade etched on both sides with strapwork enclosing a shield with an eagle with its wings displayed, probably Nuremburg, southern Germany ca. 1580 |
| Physical description | Boar spear with long wooden shaft carved with overlapping leaf pattern, the section near the blade covered in green cloth fixed with brass studs, the blade etched on both sides with strapwork enclosing a shield with an eagle with its wings displayed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Maker's mark: double-barred cross (Unidentified) |
| Object history | The Museum bought this boar spear for £10 in 1952 from Mr Stanislas Meyer using funds from the Major Victor Farquharson Bequest in 1927. It provenance before this is unknown. |
| Historical context | Boar hunting remained a popular pastime in much of Europe for centuries. The last part of the hunt usually involved approaching the cornered boar on foot through dense undergrowth. Boar-hunting was regarded as an extreme test of courage and skill. More functional boar spears had cross-bars behind the blade which kept the hunter beyond the reach of sharp tusks by preventing the spear penetrating too deeply. Decorative spears like this were deemed worthy of a place in a rustkammer (armoury) alongside ceremonial halberds and pikes. |
| Summary | This spear is more a display piece than a funtional weapon. Its elaborate decoration gives an indication of the importance of hunting to the 16th century nobility. Boar hunting remained a popular pastime in much of Europe for centuries. The last part of the hunt usually involved approaching the cornered boar on foot through dense undergrowth. Boar-hunting was regarded as an extreme test of courage and skill. More functional boar spears had cross-bars behind the blade which kept the hunter beyond the reach of sharp tusks by preventing the spear penetrating too deeply. Decorative spears like this were deemed worthy of a place in a rustkammer (armoury) alongside ceremonial halberds and pikes. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.30-1952 |
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| Record created | April 23, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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