POST MEDIEVAL SPUR

1700

Copper alloy Spur fragment. Heel from a rowel spur for the left foot with a long round-ended rowel box with drilled apertures of 3mm diameter to retain a pin for the rowel (lost) to turn on. A vertical line moulded in relief divides the terminal from the neck, and the latter bears faint traces of cross-hatched filing on one side. The heel of the spur is flat and broad, with a marked downswing to the spur side. Along the spur side - presumably the outer side - appears a frieze set in a sunken panel of width or height c.14mm. The frieze comprises a series of three human figures depicted in low relief, all in an identical bow-legged riding posture. The effect is reminiscent of a child's paper chain, or perhaps the repeating patterns of a tapestry sampler, and the series presumably continued along the rest of the spur side. It seems appropriate for a child's spur. Though the sunken panel would be apt to receive enamel, there is no trace of colorant and any decorative effect may have depended on contrasting textures of figures and ground. Now bent. Suggested date: Post-Medieval, 1700-1800.Length: 51.2mm, Width (side): 19mm, Thickness (side): 2.3mm, Diameter (neck): c.9mm, Weight: 46.19gms.