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Rowel Spur

Culture: European

Date: first quarter of 17th century
Medium: iron, silver, gold
Dimensions:
Overall: 6 x 3 1/2 in. (15.2 x 8.9 cm)
Credit Line:Museum Purchase
Object number: 1957.59.1

Spurs were fit around the back of a rider’s heel to urge their horses to move faster.  To make the spur more effective, a sharp-toothed wheel was inserted into the end of the shank of a spur, called a rowel.

Made of plain iron and sporting a gilded neck, this once functional spur was later encrusted with silver decoration, probably to make it more appealing to a collector’s taste when it entered the art market. 

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